Zlatan Ibrahimović has signed a one-year contract extension at AC Milan that will enable him to play beyond his 40th birthday.
“AC Milan is the Club for which Zlatan has played the most in Italy,” said Milan statement. “After scoring 84 goals in 130 appearances with the Rossoneri, the Swedish striker will continue to be wearing the red and black jersey next season.”
Posting to his 47 million followers on Instagram, Swede Ibrahimović was pictured signing the new contract alongside club executives, including legendary Italy and AC Milan defender, now the club’s Technical Director, Paolo Maldini.
“The Saga continues @acmilan,” wrote Ibrahimović, who joined the Serie A club for a second spell in December 2019, scoring 17 goals in 25 matches in all competitions this season and passing 500 career goals in February.
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Born on October 3 in 1981, the new contract will enable Ibrahimović play for Milan as he turns 40 and join a select group of quadragenarians who have played in Serie A.
Francesco Totti played for AS Roma for his entire 24-year professional career, retiring at the age of 40 in 2017, with 708 appearances and 307 goals.
At Inter Milan, defender Javier Zanetti ended his era with the club after 19 years, and 857 appearances, captaining the team to an unprecedented treble in 2010.
Paolo Maldini, another AC Milan star playing into his fourth decade, made 902 appearances for the club, winning five European Cups over 24 years.
As the son of former captain Cesare Maldini, Milan retired Paolo’s famed No.3 shirt number as he ended his playing career, under a condition it could be used again if one of his sons played for the Rossoneri. Last year, 18-year-old midfielder Daniel Maldini made his Milan debut against Hellas Verona.