Italian media said on Monday that veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will continue with AC Milan in the new season, hoping to help the glorified club end its fast of winning major titles and returning to the Champions League.
Ibrahimovic, who will turn 39 in next October, joined Milan for the second time in January, based on a six-month contract, and helped the team improve its performance to end last season without losing 13 consecutive games in all competitions.
Thanks to this performance, the team ranked sixth among the 20 Italian League teams and qualified for the Europa League qualifiers next season 2020-2021.
Italian media, including the newspaper "Gazzetta dello Sport" and the Italian network Sky, said Ibrahimovic signed a new contract with Milan on Monday.
Ibrahimovic hinted that he could continue with Milan during an interview with the club's TV channel after his return from vacation on Sunday.
đ„ @Ibra_official IZ back đ€ # SemperMilan pic.twitter.com/RSVq2fFJIS
- AC Milan (@acmilan) August 30, 2020
"Finally everything has been arranged and I can go back to where I feel at home ... Now is the time to work hard and move forward with full force," the Swedish player said.
Ibrahimovic added, "I have always said that I am here to achieve results and to help the team, the coach and the club to return Milan to the place it should be and not just to bring luck."
And he added, "We have performed very well during the past six months, but we have not won any title. And this season there is a possibility of me from the beginning, so we have to continue from where we ended and work hard and make sacrifices."
Ibrahimovic previously played for several prominent European clubs, including Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, ââParis Saint-Germain and Manchester United, before moving to Los Angeles Galaxy in 2018.
Seven-time European champions Milan have not previously won any major titles since 2011 when they were crowned the Italian league for the 18th and last time in its history, after which it has generally become in the middle of the standings.
The team has not participated in the European Champions League since the 2013-2014 season.