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Manchester United need to beg Ibrahimovich to stay – has it really come to this?

By Craig Pearson

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates victory with the trophy after during the EFL Cup Final between Manchester United and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2017 in London, England. Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates victory with the trophy after during the EFL Cup Final between Manchester United and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2017 in London, England. Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s future is unclear at present. Jose Mourinho says Manchester United fans should beg the striker to stay for one more year. Which, really just shows where the club are at right now.

Manchester United have a lot to thank Zlatan Ibrahimovich for this season. The striker has been inspirational in his first – and perhaps only – season in the Premier League. The latest act of inspiration being scoring a late goal to clinch the EFL Cup for the club.

The future of Ibrahimovich has been a talking point in the aftermath, with the Swede only having a one-year contract with the club. Ibrahimovich’s agent refused to guarantee the striker will be back next season in an interview with radio station talkSPORT.

Whilst Mourinho said after the cup final, as per Sky Sports, that ”maybe United fans can go to the door of his [Ibrahimovich] house, and stay there all night, if needed” in order to convince Zlatan to stay for another year.

Based on Ibrahimovich’s performance this season, it’s easy to see why Mourinho and United would want the veteran to stay for another season. But having said that, United should not be so desperately relying on a 35-year-old at this point. This is Manchester United, after all.

Related Story: Mourinho calls on Neymar to join Man United

If anything, it just shows where the club are at right now. Where they are, and where they hoped they would be, are two very different things. Prior to the season, with the arrival of Ibrahimovich and Paul Pogba in particular, along with Mourinho, talk was of winning the Premier League.

Before a ball was kicked, Manchester City were the favorites to be champions and United were close behind. Fast forward six months and the Red Devils are fighting to finish 4th. Not 1st. Top spot is completely out of reach.

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So United are performing way below expectations in the league. Unquestionably. And that is with Ibrahimovich scoring 15 league goals to this point (25 goals in all competitions). The next best in the league is Juan Mata with six. Now, most teams have a clear top scorer, but that margin is unhealthy.

Just where would the club be without Ibrahimovich? It’s a great question, and, kind of scary. Zlatan is 35 years old. This, no matter how good he has been performing, is not his prime. It’s his swansong.

The fact that Ibrahimovich is unsure whether he wants to stay for the final year or two of his career tells you where United are right now. What is it that Ibrahimovich is waiting for? The same thing Antoine Griezmann is waiting for.

The same thing most top players will be waiting to see: if United qualify for the Champions League. To see whether United will be back at Europe’s top table next season. At present, the club’s chances are on a knife edge.

Next: Man U win EFL Cup, not the United way, but the Mourinho way

Ultimately, Manchester United will finish in the top four this season if Ibrahimovich can fire them there. It’s all on Zlatan. Again. And what if he can’t? He’ll leave and United will struggle to replace him without the promise of the Champions League.

How did it ever come to this?

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