Sweden boss won't allow Ibrahimovic to fly to Manchester

Sweden manager Erik Hamren has barred Zlatan Ibrahimovic from leaving the international camp to talk to Manchester United as its Euro 2016 opener against Ireland draws nearer.

Ibrahimovic is widely expected to sign for Jose Mourinho's United on a free transfer after exiting Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract this summer, but completion of the deal is on hold while he's on national team duty.

The flamboyant forward already recognised this last week, telling reporters "you will have to have patience" when asked where and when his next move will occur.

Hamren has now confirmed that United will have to wait to secure its man, telling newspaper Goteborgs-Posten: "Players have their leisure time on the schedule - there's nothing I can control. But it would not be okay for Zlatan to fly to Manchester."

France kicks off the summer tournament Friday against Romania, but Sweden begins its campaign in Saint-Denis against Ireland on Monday. Ibrahimovic, as skipper of his country and its all-time leading scorer, is the most important component of Blagult, so Hamren is unsurprisingly keen on keeping him focused on Euro 2016 rather than club football.

Hamren continued: "I'm 100 percent sure it will not affect Zlatan. He has been in the business a long time.

"I understand there is a lot of Zlatan media. Not only in Sweden. I understand that. But with us, it is nothing. He handles it perfectly. The players are familiar with it. You can be calm - there is nothing that has affected us negatively in the group. Absolutely nothing."

After the Ireland test, Sweden then takes on Italy next Friday and then rounds off Group E against Belgium on June 22.