Milan (AFP)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stopped in mid-flight: the star striker of AC Milan, very visible on the field, had to be placed in quarantine after a positive test for the coronavirus, announced Thursday the Italian club, a few hours before a qualifying round of the Europa League.

"I tested negative for Covid yesterday (Wednesday) and positive today (Thursday). I have no symptoms at all. The Covid had the courage to challenge me. Bad idea", tweeted the player, who will be 39 years old on October 3.

The Swede, now confined to his home, was therefore forced to miss the match of the 3rd qualifying round of the Europa League against the Norwegians of Bodo / Glimt, Thursday evening in San Siro, when he had just scored three goals in two matches: a double against Bologna in Serie A and a goal against the Shamrock Rovers in C3.

AC Milan had two rounds of tests this week, the second being carried out the day after Brazilian defender Leo Duarte tested positive on Wednesday.

Ibrahimovic's quarantine should cause him to miss the possible Europa League play-off scheduled for Thursday October 1 and the next two Serie A matches against Crotone and La Spezia.

- Back for the derby?

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If all goes well for him, he will be able to return after the international break and participate in the derby against Inter scheduled for October 17.

But it was a blow to "Zlatan", who looked in brilliant form and proved AC Milan right for signing him.

The Swedish forward first returned to Lombardy for six months, in January, with an additional year as an option, after leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy, one of Major League Soccer (MLS) biggest franchises in the States. -United.

The former Manchester United, Paris-SG and Barcelona star scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for AC Milan, then extended his stay by one year for € 7million, double what 'he had touched for his first six months in Italy, according to local press.

"I think everyone can see that Ibra has played an important role in our season and our development," summed up the general manager of the Italian club.

Seven times European champion, Milan rose in a few weeks from 11th to 6th place in Serie A, thanks to a series of 12 games without defeat.

Ibrahimovic was already there when Milan won their 18th and final Scudetto in 2011. He also won three championships with Inter and two with Juventus, but these were called off following the match-fixing scandal dubbed "Calciopoli ".

© 2020 AFP