Ibrahimovic not injured but being frozen out by Mourinho, claims Mutu

London, March 15: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not injured but being frozen out by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, claims Adrian Mutu. Ibrahimovic has been dogged by injuries this season, only recovering from the knee ligament damage that ended his 2016-17 campaign prematurely in November.

The former Sweden international, who will leave at the end of the season amid links to LA Galaxy, made seven appearances – the majority from the bench – before a recurrence of his previous problem.

Football fixtures | Recent results

He returned to training in February but has not featured for United since, and Mutu says that is because of a deteriorating relationship with Mourinho, rather than due to a lack of fitness.

"Mourinho doesn't care about the performance, only the result," Mutu told Telekom Sport Romania.

"I have information that Ibrahimovic is not injured, he's just cold with Mourinho right now."

Mutu himself had a frosty relationship with Mourinho during their brief spell together at Chelsea in 2004.

The former striker clashed with Mourinho about his fitness ahead of a 2006 World Cup qualifying match between Romania and Czech Republic.

Mutu's Chelsea career ended in October 2004 after he failed a drugs test and was consequently released by the Premier League club.

Source: OPTA