Football News: Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirms AC Milan contract

Zlatan Ibrahimovic underwent surgery on his left knee at the end of May, shortly after winning the Serie A championship, to correct damage and instability brought on by a prior anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 40-year-old is anticipated to miss up to eight months of action and is unlikely to recover until midway through the 2022–23 season entirely.

The experienced Swede, who scored eight goals last season as Milan won the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years, is set to prolong his stay at San Siro, Milan said on Monday.

The seasoned centre striker has agreed to return to San Siro for another season and will now play until he is at least 41 years old.

After it was revealed that Ibrahimovic had been playing without an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for six months, he officially became a free agent on June 30. Since then, rumours about Ibrahimovic's future have been rampant.

At AC Milan, Ibrahimovic has agreed to a new 12-month contract that will end on June 30, 2023.

According to that agreement, the Swedish international would receive €1.5 million in salaries, with the possibility of an increase if he meets performance-based goals.

A statement has been released by AC Milan confirming the renewal of Ibrahimovic's contract, "AC Milan is pleased to announce the renewal of Zlatan Ibrahimović's contract until June 30, 2023.

"The Swedish forward will continue to wear the number 11 shirt."

Ibrahimovic could not consistently play for Pioli's starting lineup due to fitness issues last season, but he still managed to make 27 appearances across all competitions.

He played in 23 of those games in Serie A, scoring eight goals as Milan won their first championship in eleven years. As the team's senior player, he also assumed leadership duties in the locker room.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic narrates his struggles with injuries

The veteran forward is not anticipated to be fully fit again until 2023, but Milan has decided to keep him on for another season.

After disclosing the severity of his injury issues, Ibrahimovic underwent surgery in May. "For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee," Ibrahimovic told fans. 

"Swollen knee for six months. I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months. Took more than 20 injections in six months. Emptied the knee once a week for six months. Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months because of the pain. Never suffered so much on and off the pitch."

The former striker for Manchester United, Inter, and Barcelona scored eight goals in 23 league games last season despite an injury, helping Stefano Pioli's team win their first Scudetto since 2011.

Last season, on an Italian talk show, he admitted that he was afraid to stop playing, "I want to play as long as possible. As long as I have that adrenaline, I will continue."

As he works to recover from a catastrophic injury, it is unclear whether the 2022–23 season will conclude Ibrahimovic's remarkable career.

The former Inter, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker, who famously claimed that he "is a lion, not a human" in 2017, spoke out on retirement rumours in March.

"I want to end my career without regrets, so I have to maximise my time."