Zlatan Ibrahimovic will NOT be retiring as 41-year-old forward vows to return to the pitch very soon
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has targeted a return to the pitch ‘very soon’ as the 41-year-old continues his recovery from a career-threatening knee injury.
The Swedish great underwent surgery in May after sustaining a knee injury, prompting concerns his 23-year professional career could draw to a close.
Ibrahimovic signed a one-year contract extension at AC Milan in July despite the issue, after scoring eight goals in 23 appearances last season.
‘I want to be back on the pitch soon,’ Ibrahimovic said at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. I feel good, I hope to be back very soon’.
The veteran forward said after surgery that he had played without an ACL in his left knee for six months, requiring him to take painkillers every day and restricting him to just 10 training sessions with team-mates.
Ibrahimovic last played on the final day of the Serie A season, when a 3-0 win over Sassuolo confirmed AC Milan as Italian champions for the first time in 11 years.
He said it fulfilled a promise to return the club to the top of Italian football.
Ibrahimovic also shared a joke with former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney at the ceremony, just days after being accused of jealously by Cristiano Ronaldo in his highly controversial interview.
‘I’m sharp, sharp as a knife,’ Ibrahimovic said.
‘Wazza, I look sharp or not’.
Ibrahimovic and Rooney were both presented with Player Career Awards at the event, as well as legendary Brazilian forward Romario.
