According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ‘ready to retire’ if Milan win the Scudetto or the Coppa Italia this season.
The Swede sees his contract expire in the summer and talks to extend his stay at the club have yet to begin. He is the highest earner at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with a €7m-a-year contract and Sweden’s elimination from the World Cup play-offs may persuade him to hang his boots in June.
However, the former Juventus and Inter star would prefer to retire with one last piece of silverware in his pocket and according to La Gazzetta, Ibra is open to ending his playing career if Milan win a trophy this season.
Stefano Pioli’s men are the Serie A leaders and remain in the race to win the Coppa Italia. They picked up a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semis against Inter in March. The striker would remain at Milan also if he retires as he would join Pioli’s staff in 2022-23.
If Ibrahimovic continues for one more season, Milan will offer him a lower salary trying to sign a new centre forward for the next campaign. Liverpool’s Divock Origi is on the verge of joining the Rossoneri as a free agent, but Sassuolo‘s Gianluca Scamacca is also on Paolo Maldini’s radars.
Milan, #Ibrahimovic pronto a dire basta, ma dopo aver alzato un trofeo https://t.co/ZI8gccVt4E
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) April 6, 2022
He’s a true legend of the modern game and surely has a great future ahead as a coach, but I fear the toll of many injuries over multiple decades of top-level play has finally caught up with Zlatan. Win the Scudettio AND the Coppa and retire in glory….
Being 41 years old has nothing to do with it?
Imagine how much he could teach Scamacca if he does stay in some kind of coaching role.
He’s prolonging the inevitable. Should transition into a coaching or directorial role at Milan.
I disagree. I would like to see him try to get healthy in the summer for another run at a season. He is a difference maker.
Make room for daniel maldini and lorenzo colombo