Ronaldo to Man Utd: Mourinho will only consider Real Madrid deal if one transfer happens

The Portugal international is said to be seething at Los Blancos president Florentino Perez for going back on his word about a new contract.

Yet the Daily Mail say that, though a move to Manchester United is unlikely, the club may consider a return if Ibrahimovic goes.

The 36-year-old is still battling for full fitness having rushed himself back from a serious knee injury back in November.

Last night, Mourinho admitted Ibrahimovic was on the wane by expressing a belief he is reaching the tail end of his career at elite level.

“I was his manager when he was 29 at Inter Milan. We can’t stop time, and for players time means a lot,” he said.

“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 his career at the highest level at Manchester United.

“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, he deserves that and I’m here to try to help him do that.”

The Daily Mail say that Ronaldo could be signed as a replacement.

The forward could be turned into a true No9 given his own advancing years.

But Ronaldo may have to take a significant pay cut, particularly with United ready to pay Alexis Sanchez a huge £350,000 a week.