Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires aged 41: ‘The time has come to say goodbye’

06/05/2023

A clearly emotional Ibrahimovic was serenaded by the Milan fans and then given a guard of honour by his team-mates as he left the pitch.

The former Manchester United striker has spent most of the season on the sidelines due to injury, playing just four times for Milan and scoring once in a 3-1 defeat at Udinese in March, and his departure from the club had already been announced.

In July last year he renewed his contract for another year, despite facing the prospect of a lengthy rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Shortly after helping Milan win the Serie A title he had undergone a planned procedure on his left knee to repair damage and instability caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury.

As expected that meant a lengthy lay-off and Ibrahimovic did not make his first appearance of this season until the end of February.

Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo and joined Ajax in 2001 after rejecting the overtures of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn’t do auditions,” was how Ibrahimovic put it in his own inimitable style.

The prolific striker also had spells with Juventus and Inter Milan before an unhappy spell at Barcelona, where he complained about how he was used by manager Pep Guardiola.

“When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari,” Ibrahimovic said.

Ibrahimovic acknowledges the Milan supporters

The Milan fans show a message of support to Ibrahimovic

“If you drive a Ferrari you put premium fuel in the tank, you drive on to the motorway and you floor the accelerator.

“Guardiola filled up with diesel and went for a spin in the countryside. If that’s what he wanted, he should have bought himself a Fiat from the start.”

Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan for the first time, initially on loan, in 2010 before moving to Paris St Germain, where he scored 113 times in 122 league appearances.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires aged 41: ‘The time has come to say goodbye’

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