Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the marquee names that is absent from Manchester United’s tour of China and manager Jose Mourinho explained why in the Mirror.
Sweden and Ibrahimovic famously crashed out of the competition before many of his other United teammates who featured in Euro 2016 but Mourinho’s big signing of the summer is staying on holiday longer than others. Online soccer odds show Mourinho’s Manchester United as having a good chance at reaching the UEFA Champions League the following season, thanks in great part to the acquisition of Ibra.
The 34-year-old had a poor tournament for his standards as the striker only managed one shot on target and failed to score a goal in Sweden’s three group matches.
David de Gea, Wayne Rooney, Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling, and Marcus Rashford are some of the United players that featured in the tournament who made the trip to China.
Mourinho would explain that not all footballers are the same so that is why Zlatan has been afforded the longer break.
“My decision on Zlatan is the consequence of many hours of study, analysis and discussion with my staff. Despite the fact he was out of the Euros one match before the English guys, everything is different.”
The decision to rest Zlatan may be a wise one as he will soon be 35 years of age and unnecessary travel certainly takes a toll on the body but Mourinho will have to hop that Zlatan’s special treatment will not upset others in the squad.
