Zlatan Ibrahimovic told photographers yesterday that a big announcement on his future is coming soon. “There will be a very big announcement soon, it will be huge,” the former Manchester United striker said. Ibrahimovic’s comments came following a four hour meeting with his agent Mino Raiola at a central Manchester restaurant.
In May, Ibra had surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament in Pittsburgh. Since then, the 35-year-old Swede has been rehabilitating at United’s Carrington training ground, despite the fact that the club did not renew his one year contract. He is scheduled to continue his rehabilitation at the MUFC facility.
In terms of where his future lies, the Los Angeles Times claims to have the scoop, saying that Ibrahimovic is set to sign a record breaking deal with the L.A. Galaxy. The L.A. Times writes that: “numerous stories out of England say Ibrahimovic, who is rehabbing a season-ending knee injury in Manchester, is close to accepting an offer from the Galaxy that one report said is worth more than $7.7 million.”
Orlando City’s Kaka, with a guaranteed salary of $7.168 million, is currently the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer history, and the Ibrahimovic deal, if/when it’s finalized would set a new MLS record.
The Galaxy can sign Ibra with no transfer fee this summer, since United released him. Old Trafford did the same last summer, when Zlatan was out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
United spent £75 million last week to replace Ibrahimovic with former Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Ibrahimovic even gave Lakaku his blessing to wear the No. 9 jersey that had belonged to him last season.
It was thought that Ibrahimovic would not be ready to return to action until next January, but he is reportedly ahead of schedule.
He could be back at it come late fall.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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