Zlatan Ibrahimovic signs new one-year deal at AC Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has penned a new one-year deal at AC Milan that will see him play on at the San Siro beyond his 40th birthday. 

The striker has been in excellent form during an Indian summer to his career, with his 17 goals from 25 matches having helped put Milan back into the title picture in Serie A this term. 

‘I feel really happy. I’ve been waiting for this day. I’m staying for another year. It’s what matters and it’s what’s most important,’ Ibrahimovic said.

‘I’ve always said that playing for AC Milan is like being at home. I am really happy with the way the club makes me feel, everyone that works here, my team-mates and the coach and the fans who I miss a lot in the stadium. 

Ibrahimovic rejoined Milan for a second spell in January 2020 in a six-month deal, having previously played for the Rossoneri between 2010 and 2012, including a year while on loan from Barcelona. 

Despite dabbling with retirement, the striker decided to play on for another season and his form in this campaign has convinced the former Manchester United striker to continue until at least the end of the 2021-22 campaign. 

Ibrahimovic’s form has been so good it has convinced him to end a five-year retirement from the Sweden international set-up and he will be hoping to secure a place in the squad for the European Championship this summer.

For now though the 39-year-old, who turns 40 in October, is delighted to have agreed a new deal, insisting his relationship with the fans and manager Stefano Pioli makes him want to stay at the club for the rest of his life. 

‘This is like being at home. I would stay for the rest of my life if I could, he added. ‘From the very first day, working with coach [Stefano] Pioli has been really easy because he has the right mentality.

‘He has this energy each day that transforms the team because he wants to get the most out of the team 

‘I am really happy with how the club makes me feel. I would stay for the rest of my life if I could.’

Ibrahimovic started his career at Malmo in 1999 and has a glittering CV which has also seen him play for Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain as well as Milan’s city rivals Inter.

More to follow…