Jose Mourinho Dismisses Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United Reunion Rumours

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ruled out his club from the race to re-sign Los Angeles Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after he left for Major League Soccer in March.

Romelu Lukaku has struggled for goals in United's attack this season—he's scored four times in 13 games—but that won't push Mourinho to sign Ibrahimovic again. When asked in Friday's press conference whether he would be making another move for his former charge, Mourinho replied: "No. No."

Ibrahimovic, 37, struggled to return to his best in the Premier League after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2017. However, he's soaring in MLS and could lead the Galaxy into this season's play-offs with a victory against Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

Presuming the L.A. outfit makes it that far, the MLS Cup concludes in December, which would free up Ibrahimovic for a short-term loan (or even a permanent move) in Europe's winter transfer window.

The former Sweden international has scored 22 goals and recorded six assists in 27 games for the Galaxy in his maiden MLS campaign, leading to speculation he could be ready to try his hand in Europe again.

But Ciaran Kelly of the Manchester Evening News argued United would be right to steer clear of the veteran frontman despite their need to ease the pressure on Lukaku:

Calciomercato.com also recently reported Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, has discussed a potential return to AC Milan for his client (h/t Football Italia). 

Lukaku was brought to Old Trafford from Everton in 2017 for a £75 million fee. He impressed last season and was expected to kick on after netting 27 times in 51 games in his first campaign at the club, but his return in 2018-19 has been disappointing.

Mourinho team's quest for goals hasn't been aided by the poor form of Alexis Sanchez, the club's highest-paid player, who was left out of the squad for the third time this season against Juventus on Tuesday.

There has been an urge to defend Lukaku early on in his United career considering he's still only 25 and amassed prolific records at Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Anderlecht. However, journalist Samuel Luckhurst has said the evidence against the striker is "damning":

Ibrahimovic recently appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and suggested backstage that there could be another Premier League destination in his sights:

The striker missed 46 games through injury in his two seasons at United, per Transfermarkt, but he was a reliable figure when he featured, scoring 29 goals in 53 appearances.

Lukaku will hope to get back to scoring form against former club Everton when United host the Toffees on Sunday.