Zlatan Ibrahimovic given shirt number 10 at Manchester United and roars: ‘I’m back to finish what I started’
Superstar Swede has signed a one-year deal to return to Old Trafford and been given Wayne Rooney's old shirt
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has been handed Wayne Rooney's old No10 shirt at Manchester United.
The club announced today that he had signed a new one-year deal to rejoin the club after his cruciate knee ligament injury towards the end of last season.
Romelu Lukaku took on the No9 Ibra wore last season when the Belgian hitman sealed his £75million switch from Everton.
Big Swede Ibra will now take on Rooney’s vacant shirt at Old Trafford - as he targets a return to action against Spurs in October.
And Ibra said: “I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club’s intention for me to stay.
"I cannot wait to get back out on that Old Trafford pitch, but I also know that I have to take my time to make sure that I am ready.
“I have been working hard and will continue to do so to make sure I am in the best possible condition for my return to the pitch."
Ibra, 35, scored 28 goals last season in 46 appearances including two in the EFL Cup Final win over Southampton.
But he initially refused the offer of a new deal as he recovered from his injury.
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He wanted to be sure he would be strong enough to play at the highest level again but having worked hard on his rehabilitation he has earmarked United’s home game with Spurs on October 28th to make his return.
Ibrahimovic told ESPN how his shirt swap with Romelu Lukaku came about.
He said: "Lukaku called me and said 'bro can I get the No 9 shirt?'.
"I said 'I’m not on that level that I will make it difficult for you, I just want you to feel happy and feel welcome. So I give you the number 9. But I will take the number 10'.
"That’s the way we do it. So I never left, I just upgraded my number."
Jose Mourinho is delighted to add him to his arsenal of attacking talent having landed Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Mourinho said: “We are delighted Zlatan is on the road to recovery and we are equally delighted to have his ambition and experience back with us.
“After his contribution last season he deserves our trust and we will be patient waiting for him to return. I have no doubt that he will be important in the second part of the season."
