Zlatan Ibrahimovic Says 'Giving Up Is Not an Option' After Knee Injury

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has vowed not to give up after being expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury he picked up in the Red Devils' recent UEFA Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht at Old Trafford.

Ibrahimovic, 35, is expected to be out for the foreseeable future, per Allan Valente of Sky Sports. However, the veteran attacker has taken to Instagram to state the injury won't alter his plans to continue playing:

Such a serious injury naturally raised questions about Ibrahimovic's future, particularly regarding his time with United. The striker's contract runs out in the summer, although the Old Trafford club has the option to offer him a second year.

It's something Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail believes the Red Devils should do. Speaking on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement, Holt called on United to stand by their star man: "He has had a fantastic season, he has been one of the buys and performers of the season, so it's a really difficult situation for United. One would like to think United would stand by him and offer him a new contract. I'm not sure if football works like that anymore, though."

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There had been rumours Ibrahimovic could opt for a spell in MLS, with Los Angeles Galaxy suitors, per BBC Sport's Simon Stone. Any move would reportedly be motivated by a failure on United's part to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror.

However, even those plans might change now Ibrahimovic could be out until January 2018, according to ESPN FC's Mark Ogden.

Ibrahimovic may even seek advice and treatment from highly regarded Pittsburgh-based surgeon Freddie Fu, according to unnamed Swedish sources (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News).

Either way, it seems as though the player is not ready to give up on playing once his rehabilitation is complete.

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