It has been an injury-plagued season for Victor Lindelof, although the Swedish centre-back returned to action before the March international.
Victor Lindelof, 30, has made just 14 appearances so far this season due to injuries and falling down the defensive pecking order at Manchester United.
The Sweden international recently made his first Premier League start of the season when United drew 1-1 against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Lindelof returned to fitness when Ruben Amorim had been on the verge of a selection headache, especially in defence. Matters were worse before the international break with Ayden Heaven forced off on a stretcher in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
United will be looking to end a dismal campaign by winning the Europa League, which is likely to become the survival of the fittest after the Reds reached the quarter-finals. Amorim will hope to have more players returning from injury between now and then.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Victor Lindelof addresses uncertain future
It has almost been eight years since Victor Lindelof joined United from Benfica and this could be his final season at Old Trafford.
There is a strong likelihood that he will not be offered fresh terms and will consequently be released.
Lindelof will turn 31 this summer and the arrival of another centre-back this summer would only push him further down the pecking order.
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Speaking to PA News Agency (via Manchester Evening News), Lindelof revealed he is “comfortable” at United but is ready to discuss his future.
“I’m very comfortable in United,” Lindelof said. “I’ve been there for a long time and it’s the world’s best league.
“I’ll have to talk to everyone involved going forward.”
The emergence of Heaven will make forcing a way into the team more difficult for Lindelof, but Lindelof could still play an important role between now and the end of the season.
Lindelof overlooked by Sweden boss
Although Lindelof was called up to the Sweden squad for the March international break, Jon Dalh Tomasson kept him on the bench throughout Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Luxembourg.
In the lead up to Sweden’s latest defeat, Tomasson spoke to the press about Lindelof’s future and urged the defender to focus on playing regular football.
Lindelof has missed a lot of football since the previous international breaks and three other Swedish centre-backs were named ahead of him. They include Lille’s Gabriel Gudmundsson, Atalanta’s Isak Hien and Celta Vigo’s Carl Starfelt.
Caps Goals Assists
70 3 1
Victor Lindelof stats for Sweden
It remains to be seen if Lindelof will find a place back in the Sweden line-up when they take on Northern Ireland at 6 pm.
Lindelof will find it tricky to force his way back into Sweden’s plans unless he starts playing football regularly again, which could help persuade him to move on from United this summer.
As things stand, Lindelof would leave United having won two trophies, including the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. It would be great if he could add the Europa League to that.