Zlatan Ibrahimovic shuns retirement as veteran striker signs new one-year deal at AC Milan to play until he is 41
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has reportedly agreed a paycut to shun retirement and sign a new one-year extension at AC Milan. The Swedish striker is currently battling back from injury but has agreed a new deal to continue playing until he is at least 41. 1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a new one-year contract at AC Milan despite his injuryCredit: Getty Ibrahimovic, 40, became a free agent last week following the expiry of his contract at AC Milan. The star was almost forced into retirement recently due to a severe knee injury. He played without an ACL for six months and now faces a gruelling period of recovery after undergoing surgery. However, the Serie A champions were eager to retain the services of the former Manchester United, Inter and Barcelona maverick. We reported last week how club chiefs had scheduled a meeting with Ibrahimovic’s representatives over an extension despite his injury woes in a bid to tempt him to stay. Manager Stefano Pioli sees the veteran as an important presence in the dressing room and on the pitch despite his problems. Now transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed it is a done deal. He tweeted: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic has decided to extend his contract with AC Milan! FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS “Zlatan will continue for one more season, agreement in place until June 2023. “Ibrahimovic suffered knee injury and his recovery will take 6/7 months but he will accept lower salary.” Despite his age, the icon still managed to score eight goals in 27 matches for Milan as they claimed their first Scudetto since 2011 last term. Discussing his injury at the end of the season, he said: “For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee. Swollen knee for six months. “I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months. “Took more than 20 injections in six months. Emptied the knee once a week for six months. “Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months because of the pain.”
AC Milan 'will meet Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the next few days to convince veteran to sign new deal'
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract with Serie A champions AC Milan has now expired But the club reportedly intent to keep the striker and will offer him a new deal Milan value Ibrahimovic's contribution on pitch and presence in dressing room Ibrahimovic is set to be out for seven months after suffering an ACL injury The 40-year-old scored eight goals and provided three assists last season By Abdi Rashid For Mailonline Published: 04:29 EDT, 2 July 2022 | Updated: 06:05 EDT, 2 July 2022 43k shares 20 Viewcomments AC Milan are planning on renewing Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract at the club and a meeting has been set with the striker, according to reports in Italy. The 40-year-old became a free agent this week after his contract expired from the back of playing an influential role in Milan's Serie A success last season. Ibrahimovic revealed he had 'never suffered so much' in his career after playing with an ACL injury which has now seen him ruled out for seven months. Scudetto winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic could soon extend his stay at Milan with a new contract Despite the long-term injury, Milan are set to offer the veteran a new deal according to Sky Sport Italia. A meeting between the parties has been scheduled in the next few days and Milan are keen to keep Ibrahimovic due to his efficiency on the pitch and presence in the dressing room. The striker's knee injury sparked talks of a possible retirement last month but Milan's technical director, Paolo Maldini, revealed those reports are wide of the mark. Speaking at the end of May, Maldini said: 'I spoke to [Ibrahimovic] on Monday and we said we'd discuss it again in about 15 days. I don't see a problem in reaching an agreement. 'Naturally, he's not happy at playing so little. We'll see what happens in the next two weeks. After playing a peripheral role last season, he will be ruled out for eight months after surgery Milan technical director revealed Ibrahimovic does not intend to retire despite the knee injury 'Whatever we do will be for the good of him and Milan. From what I understand, his intention is to keep playing.' The announcement of Ibrahimovic's second spell at Milan at the end of 2020 was widely seen as a surprising short-term solution. The former LA Galaxy and Manchester United hitman's arrival sparked Milan's rapid revival from midtable strugglers to Scudetto contenders, earning the irrepressible veteran a new contract by popular demand. Ten years after his first Serie A victory with Milan, Ibrahimovic repeated the trick at the end of his first full season following his return to the Rossoneri, scoring eight goals in 23 appearances as they saw off arch-rivals Inter in a tight title race. Advertisement Share or comment on this article:
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