Not that it was ever in much doubt, it looks like Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be returning to pick up where he left off at Manchester United.
The veteran forward finished last season as United’s top goalscorer despite seeing his campaign prematurely curtailed by a gnarly knee injury suffered in mid-April.
United then decided against renewing his contract for a second season as they didn’t fancy paying those monolithic wages in return for nowt but six months of injury rehab, but it wasn’t much of a secret that the club were keen to re-secure Ibra’s services once he returned to fitness.
And so, with all the customary humility and grace we’ve come to expect, Zlatan appeared to confirm his return to Old Trafford by mocking up a fresco of himself as God arm-wrestling with the devil…
I UNITED it @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/2rgvuvoT0m
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) August 24, 2017
Be gone subtlety, for thy have no place here.
United themselves then followed up by confirming all the bluster, posting a clip of Zlatan slinking into his new No.10 shirt as well as a dramatic video detailing his fight back from the brink and fervent desire to finish what he started at Old Trafford…
#Zlat10 pic.twitter.com/jnjJHnLJy4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 24, 2017
.@Ibra_official: “It’s time to finish what I started.” #TheJourneyContinues pic.twitter.com/uAt4dXfFeX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 24, 2017
Admit it, you’ve missed him a little bit.
Assuming he won’t be relied on as much as last year given the instant impact of Romelu Lukaku, United will probably be able to use Zlatan’s guile and craft much more selectively, leaving their front line looking ridiculously well-stocked.
Suddenly a proper, sustained title tilt isn’t looking quite as far off.