Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘could remain with AC Milan next season even if they fail to make Champions League’ as director Paolo Maldini plans talks with veteran Swedish striker
- Ibrahimovic has scored three times since returning to AC Milan last month
- Swedish striker, 38, has helped Milan move closer to Serie A top six
- His contract automatically renews if they qualify for the Champions League
- But the San Siro club remain some nine points off reaching fourth spot
- However, reports in Italy suggest that Ibrahimovic could remain regardless
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘could remain at AC Milan even if the club don’t qualify for the Champions League next season.’
The Swedish striker, 38, has an automatic renewal option in his six-month contract with the San Siro club in case of qualification for Europe’s elite club competition.
But Italian newspaper Tuttosport report, as relayed by Football Italia, that Ibrahimovic is open to staying anyway regardless of where Milan finish in the table.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘could stay with AC Milan even if they don’t reach the Champions League’
The 38-year-old Swedish striker has scored three times since returning to Milan last month
Milan are currently nine points adrift of Atalanta, who occupy the fourth Champions League place in Serie A.
But they have won six matches and lost only once in Serie A and the Coppa Italia since Ibrahimovic returned to his former club on December 27.
The veteran has scored three goals since returning to Milan and directors Paolo Maldini and Zvonimir Boban plan talks with Ibrahimovic over staying next season.
Indeed it was technical director Maldini who revealed over the weekend that Ibrahimovic has the renewal clause in his contract.
He told Sky Sport Italia: ‘There’s a six-month contract with an automatic renewal clause in case we reach the Champions League.
Milan are currently seventh in the Serie A table, some nine points off the top four
Milan’s technical director Paolo Maldini plans talks with Ibrahimovic in the coming weeks
‘Otherwise, we’ll put ourselves round the table with him. With Ibra, there must always be an open dialogue and this exists, otherwise he would not have come in the first place.’
Ibrahimovic scored 42 goals in 61 games for Milan between 2010 and 2012, with the club’s hierarchy signing him again to try and turn around Milan’s faltering season.
Milan have not competed in Europe’s most prestigious club competition since they were knocked out at the round of 16 stage by Atletico Madrid in 2014, although Ibrahmovic helped them to reach the quarter-finals in 2012, when they were eliminated by Barcelona.