Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s recent knee injury is another sign that it’s better for him and Milan if he hangs up his boots this summer.
The 40-year-old Swedish forward has missed 16 games through injury this campaign, suffering from knee and Achilles tendon issues, limiting his contributions to the Rossoneri’s Scudetto challenge.
Ibrahimovic has only played 937 minutes of Serie A action this season. Whilst this isn’t a great amount, he has netted eight goals, a sign that the former Paris Saint-Germain man still has the same quality he’s always possessed. Unfortunately though, that shouldn’t be enough to justify renewing his contract with the club.
Milan have slowly been experiencing a period of growth under Stefano Pioli and their failure to win the league title last season only added to the team’s hunger and maturity, evident with their increased quality this season.
It would be remiss to suggest that Ibrahimovic was not an important part of this process, being a fundamental leader on the pitch and proven winner for the younger players to look up to. His goals were also key, but now another veteran has proven that he can provide the same moments.
The 35-year-old Olivier Giroud joined Milan in a deal worth around €1m last summer and he’s become another key player in Pioli’s squad, giving advice to young stars like Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers. The Frenchman has also scored vital keys, like his brace in the Derby della Madonnina or his winner against Napoli.
Giroud’s arrival and subsequent impact are a sign that Ibrahimovic is no longer needed, neither as a leader nor goalscorer. His departure also frees up the Rossoneri’s wage bill a little, allowing them to better strengthen the squad in the summer.