Rome (AFP)

At 40 years old on the lawns: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the "Benjamin Button" of Serie A, extends his adventure in Milan for a year, where the star has learned to tame (a little) his ego to flourish as a tutor with 'a young generation.

Retirement, very little for him.

It is therefore at the highest level, and perhaps on an air of the Champions League if Milan retains the place in the Top 4 of the championship, that the Swedish giant will blow out its forty candles on October 3.

"The Swedish champion will wear the Rossonero jersey next season as well," the club said in a statement.

Such longevity is usually rather reserved for goalies or defenders.

It is rarer for offensive players (Francesco Totti is one of the exceptions), especially for a center forward whose game is based on his physique and a legendary flexibility allowing him all or almost all acrobatic gestures in the box.

In Milan, "Ibra" has regained shape and even seems to be getting younger, regularly having fun comparing himself to "Benjamin Button", this character who is getting younger over time.

His return to Milan in January 2020, ten years later, however left some skeptics.

Since leaving Paris SG and retiring internationally in the summer of 2016, "Ibra" seemed to be in decline.

Injured at Manchester United (2016-18).

Far from the European games in Los Angeles (2018-19).

- Backfire -

He obviously runs less but "Ibra" remains a rock, on which Milan has been rebuilt.

Drifting when the Swede arrived, very far from his past glory, the club had an incredible 2020 thanks to Zlatan's goals but also to the confidence he conveyed to his young teammates.

Since the start of 2021, the team has lost the thread a little and Zlatan a little of his splendor, between injuries and less flamboyant statistics.

But the Swede (15 goals in 17 league games played) remains one of the engines of this team and Milan did not hesitate to take out the portfolio again to keep it for another year (around 6.5 million for a an, according to the press).

This flashback - he has just crossed the bar of 500 goals scored in clubs - also brought "Ibra" to the Swedish team, nearly five years after his "farewell".

Barring injury, he will be one of the stars of the Euro.

Off the field, he has also evolved by displaying more of the second degree and even a touch of humility that he did not know: "I am only a piece of a puzzle among many pieces of a puzzle", he said. - he said in March when he found Sweden, before all the same to reconnect with the natural, with a smile: "but if you ask me, I'm the best in the world!"

- Asterix and the song -

Less rough, he is even in fashion these days, a model for clothing brands and star (and amateur singer) in prime-time on Italian television for the Sanremo Song Festival, a real cathodic high mass in Italy.

We have also seen him lend his face to an awareness campaign on wearing a mask in Lombardy and he will play in the next Asterix.

This does not prevent him from remaining faithful to the "Ibra" from before, from time to time, with regular controversies.

There was this daunting face to face with Romelu Lukaku in an Italian Cup match against Inter where he had to face accusations of racism for having alluded to "voodoo" practices.

Recently, he was also pinned down after being seen at a restaurant in Milan, believed to be unable to accommodate diners under anti-Covid restrictions.

A "work meeting", according to those around him.

To finalize the details of the new contract signed this Thursday?

© 2021 AFP