KEY POINTS

  • The 34-year-old star has been on holiday in the US since Euro 2016
  • Ibrahimovic is set to miss United's tour of China

New Manchester United signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to have been given preferential treatment by boss Jose Mourinho ahead of the Premier League season. The 34-year-old striker has reportedly been allowed to miss the club's pre-season tour to China despite Sweden's early exit from Euro 2016.

Ibrahimovic is currently on holiday in the US, where he was recently spotted at UFC 200 in Las Vegas. While United's England contingent of Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford are all due to fly with the rest of the United squad for their tour of China, Ibrahimovic will not, according to The Times.

More sports news

The move is especially surprising given Sweden were knocked out of the tournament in the group stage and five days before England were eliminated by Iceland. Ibrahimovic will miss United's two games in China, but ought to return in time for their game against Galatasaray in Stockholm, Sweden, on 30 July.

Shortly after signing for United, Ibrahimovic revealed he would speak to Mourinho about when he should join his new teammates for pre-season training. "Now I breathe out because everything is done after all the talks and speculation," he told United's in-house TV station MUTV.

"Now it is official, I am a United player and I am the happiest in the world. But now I need a bit of rest after the long season and after the Europeans. I will take my rest. How long that will be? I will discuss it with the boss and we will see."

Ibrahimovic worked with Mourinho during his spell at Inter Milan and after signing his deal at Old Trafford, the Swede admitted he is relishing the prospect of being reunited with him. "I have great memories. The only regret I had with Jose was that it was a short time with him," he previously said after signing for United.

"I had one season. We won together, we enjoyed it together, we had a great time together and I learned a lot. I got to know him as a person, not only as a coach, and I only have positive things to say. He is a winner, I am a winner and we both know what we want. We want to win. Wherever we go we win, and we will win."

Wayne Rooney