Ibrahimovic told Swedish media during a visit to Stockholm on Thursday that "I miss the national team" and that "the door isn't closed for anything."

The Manchester United striker was in Stockholm to help open a new padel centre that he helped finance, and brought teammate Paul Pogba with him to the inauguration.

Ibrahimovic is sidelined again after making his return from a long-term knee injury in November, having started just two games for United this season. He retired from international football after Euro 2016, but gave his clearest indication yet that he would be interested in playing in Russia.

"I miss the national team. When you've played for 20 years and you get to see the others playing in the national team, it's hard. But it's hard in general when you're injured because you want to play -- both for your club and your national team," Ibrahimovic said.

"It's been my life for 20 years and suddenly I'm in a position where I'm not playing every three days. But I just have to accept the situation and fight. I can't do anything else, but train and fight and set my targets."

Sweden coach Janne Andersson, who took the job after Euro 2016 and surprisingly led Sweden to the World Cup by knocking out Italy in a two-legged playoff, has been evasive in the past when asked if he would welcome Ibrahimovic back into the fold.

Asked what he'd tell Andersson if he called to invite him back, Ibrahimovic said: "We'll see, it's a tough question. I want to feel that I can perform and give something back. I don't want to come [to Russia] just because of who I am.

"The door isn't closed for anything. But first I have to play, we can't start focusing on the national team when I'm not playing. But I feel alive when all the talk is buzzing, so that's good."