Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires as a professional footballer at the age of 41. The Swede says goodbye emotionally to AC Milan and talks about his departure from the big stage.
AC Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic used the 3-1 win against FC Verona, which was also the last game of the season, to announce the end of the goalscorer’s career. It wasn’t just Ibrahimovic who shed tears. For the 41-year-old, this is finally over – and this is mainly for health reasons. Plagued by injuries, he only appeared in four competitive games this season, and he was not actively on the pitch against Verona either.
Tears in everyone’s eyes.
Zlatan is immense,
𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐙 ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/ZiCwzdWTZB
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) June 4, 2023
“But today I accept it and I am ready”
Ibrahimovic then spoke about his farewell and explained (quoted via picture ): “It rained today, I thought: ‘Even God is sad’. The emotions were too strong, today I looked like a zombie. Three months ago I would be panicked to make such an announcement, but today I accept it and I’m ready, a little bit sad of course.” The Swede, whose contract with AC Milan is expiring, stressed: “The first time I came to AC Milan you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. I want to thank you fans from the bottom of my heart. You have welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home: I will be a milanista for the rest of my life, it’s time to say goodbye to football,
“If it had been up to him, I would have kept playing football”
Alongside this, the striker spoke about his late agent Mino Raiola: “When Mino left us, football changed for me. It wasn’t the same anymore because I was alone, I didn’t have anyone by my side to talk to about my things not just about football. If he had his way, I would have kept playing football because he would have wanted commissions (laughs).” How things will continue with Ibrahimovic and whether he will take on another role in football is still pending.