One is here for the long run, the other one isn’t.
Jose Mourinho says Manchester United are intent on extending the contract of David De Gea while admitting that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s time at the top of the game is coming to an end.
United will exercise their option to extend De Gea’s four-year contract, due to expire next summer, by a further 12 months. The Spaniard has been in excellent form this season and, for once, the 27-year-old does not appear to be a Real Madrid target, with the Champions League winners instead turning their attentions to Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
“It’s obvious that we’re not going to let the option disappear,” Mourinho said ahead of United’s clash with Stoke on Monday night. “A goalkeeper like he is and obviously a club that wants to be better and better and better, we are not going to let that year option go away. But obviously we are going to try [to further extend]. Mr Woodward [the executive vice‑chairman] is not on holiday. He barely has holidays.
“Of course he’s going to try to give him a contract that keeps him here for much longer than that option that of course we are going to execute. I don’t know [if talks are under way]. I just trust the board and the work they do. I don’t negotiate players, I don’t discuss numbers and contracts. I just say what is obvious. Anyone of you would say the same – David is to keep.”
Top of the charts! 🕺@D_DeGea still leads the way… pic.twitter.com/kSxnwKTIaJ
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 10, 2018
At 36, Ibrahimovic’s future is much more short-term, but Mourinho still believes that, while he is entering the winter of his illustrious career, the Swedish striker can retain full fitness and contribute to the United first-team during the remainder of the campaign.
Ibrahimovic, United’s top scorer last season with 28 goals in 46 appearances, is expected to be available within the next three weeks after suffering a setback on his return from a serious knee injury sustained in April.
“I was his manager when he was 29 [at Inter Milan], there is no chance he is going to be 29 again,” the Portuguese coach said. “When I was managing him I was 40-something. There is no chance I will be 40-something again. I will be 55 next week – we cannot stop time and for players time means a lot. And Zlatan knows that.
“He knows that at the highest level he’s in the last part of his career but his dream, his desire, his fight was always to end in Manchester United his career at the highest level and, using the words he repeats all the time, being useful for me, for the team and that I think he can.
“He just needs to feel really happy with his knee, with his condition and that I think he can. As a leader in the dressing room, as a leader on the pitch, as a quality player on the pitch, I think he can do that and I think he deserves that and I’m here to try to help him do that.”
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