Once again, larger than life Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is being linked with a move to MLS, with the L.A. Galaxy potentially the likely landing spot contender. Multiple reports indicate that Manchester United will let Ibrahimovic, far and away team’s leading scorer last season, out of his current contract early and let him move on to American Major League Soccer.
The situation is somewhat similar to last March, when United dissolved midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger’s deal in order to allow his move to the Chicago Fire of MLS. It appears now that Ibra has played his last game in a United shirt.
The Telegraph reports that: “Ibrahimovic is likely to leave United this week after the club agreed to release him from his contract, which expires on June 30. It has yet to be confirmed which MLS side Ibrahimovic will join but he has been heavily linked with Los Angeles Galaxy, who have been in talks with the player.”
Meanwhile The Guardian writes that: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic is seriously considering an offer to join LA Galaxy and leave Manchester United before the end of the season.”
According to the L.A. Times, Ibrahimovic to the L.A. Galaxy is already a done deal.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reportedly signed with the LA Galaxy, per the LA Times' @kbaxter11. ?? pic.twitter.com/NSoELMD5J4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 22, 2018
Ibrahimovic moved to United on a free in the summer of 2016, and had a blockbuster season, until he tore up his knee in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht last April.
After extensive surgery and a long rehabilitative process, he returned to action in November, but he’s barely seeing the the pitch this season, with just 187 minutes played combined across seven matches.
Manager Jose Mourinho has already said earlier this season that he would not obstruct any move that Ibra wishes to make. Mourinho also had previously confirmed that this would be Ibrahimovic’s last season at the club, although at the time the United boss made those remarks, he assumed that Zlatan would see out his deal.
Given the situation for all involved, now, not summer, seems like the right time for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make his move to MLS.
At a beach party that kicked off MLS All-Star week in Chicago last summer, we asked former Chicago Fire and United States Men’s National Team star Brian McBride about the idea of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in MLS. Read what he said at this link.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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