30/08/2017 15:30, Report by Matt Bullin

Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata has branded Zlatan Ibrahimovic  “a legend of the game” after the striker penned a new one-year contract with the Reds last week.

Ibrahimovic scored a sensational 28 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions for the Reds in the 2016/17 season, and his new deal sees him tied to Old Trafford until the summer of 2018.

Mata, who has been a mainstay in United’s side so far this term, was also keen to emphasise the positive impact the Swede will continue to have, on and off the pitch, and in particular on the younger players.

“We are happy that he is with us,” Mata told us. “Obviously for the young players he is a big personality who they can look up to and learn a lot of things. His personality can help us also.

"He is one of those players, with his history of football and winning trophies everywhere, scoring lots of goals and being the biggest star in Sweden’s history - he is a legend of the game.”

Mata’s description of Ibrahimovic is quite apt, given the fact the Swedish hitman has scored over 400 goals across his career and won more than 30 major honours.

WHEN WILL ZLATAN RETURN?

Reds manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he does not think Ibrahimovic will be fit in time to feature in any of United’s Champions League group games, although the boss did acknowledge the striker could be available after Christmas.

When asked when Ibrahimovic could realistically return, Mourinho replied: “I don't want to think about it. I don't even ask, I don't speak with him about it, I don't speak with the medical team about it. I just think he will be an extra man for us in the second part of the season. 

"When I say second part of the season, normally we say January, after Christmas, when the transfer window re-opens in January,” he added. “But I have no idea at all and I think the right way is not even to think about it and just let him do his work, step by step and come back when he's really ready."