Zlatan Ibrahimovic steps up gym work ahead of return with some help from Manchester United legend Andy Cole
Swedish star is working his way back to full fitness with Cole after suffering a severe knee ligament injury in April
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has stepped up his gym work ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return with some help from Manchester United legend Andy Cole.
The Swedish star, 36, is working his way back to full fitness with Cole after suffering a severe knee ligament injury in April.
Zlatan sustained the potentially career-ending tear in the Europa League, but has been working hard ever since to defy his age and return to football.
Man United took the punt on Ibrahimovic, bringing him back for a second season despite doubts about his fitness.
But he appeared in good spirits as he trained alongside club icon Cole in the gym.
Cole, wearing a United training kit, captioned the image: "Good morning my new gym partner."
The ex-United man - part of the 1999 treble-winning squad - is working his way back to full fitness after undergoing a kidney transplant in April.
Cole had suffered organ failure in 2014, but is now looking healthy, with his Instagram littered with snaps of him working out.
Along with the Zlatan picture, Cole is seen hanging out with another ex-United man, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic recently revealed he has entered the world of horses, after getting his hands on six-year-old mare Grande Dieni.
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Recently, Ibra claimed he is ready to return, despite being told not to rush by his surgeon.
But Zlatan said: "I feel good. I have trained every day since I had my knee operated on, there is no vacation.
"When I come back to play football on the field I will be better than before, I am not coming back because I am the one I am, I am coming back to be a better version of the old one.
"It’s a new challenge for me but I am strong mentally and when I focus on an objective nothing can stop me.
"I will go through everything, it doesn’t matter what is in my way, I will break everything to reach my goal.
"I feel good. If it was up to me I would like to play football today but it doesn't work like that."