LOS ANGELES -- Jose Mourinho has said it is "possible" Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play for Manchester United again.
The striker was not offered a new contract at the end of the season after suffering a knee ligament injury in a quarterfinal win against Anderlecht in the Europa League in April.
However, the 35-year-old has remained in Manchester during his rehabilitation and is using United's facilities at Carrington, as well as the club's medical staff.
Mourinho does not expect the Swede, who is not with the squad on the tour of the United States, to be fit until December. But the United manager has revealed he could pull on a United shirt again.
"It's possible. It's open," Mourinho said. "We wanted to be honest and open and make a decision if his desire was to leave. There was no new contract.
"We left a space of time for everybody to decide and from his view he made a decision that he still wants to play at highest level."
Mourinho said Ibrahimovic did not want to "hide behind" his injury but said the team's leading scorer was not happy with how last season ended and to have sat out as the team won the Europa League trophy against Ajax.
"He made the choice to try to play at the highest level. He will recover with us," Mourinho said. "Carrington and Old Trafford are open for him.
"At the same time, let's make a decision that makes us all happy and if that's for him to stay and we wait until December, maybe. I don't think before December.
"But why not wait for a big player who gave us so much?"
Ibrahimovic was spotted with agent Mino Raiola in Manchester this week and told waiting photographers to expect a "big announcement" soon.
He has been linked with a move to MLS side LA Galaxy, who play United in their first preseason friendly at the StubHub Center on Saturday.