Ibrahimovic has been a key figure in Milan’s resurgence to the top of Italian football after his return to the club as a free agent in late 2019. His contributions helped bring Milan back from a period of struggles, culminating in their Serie A triumph last season.
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This season, however, Ibrahimovic has had limited playing time in Serie A, featuring in only four matches and playing a total of 144 minutes. Despite his reduced appearances, he made history by becoming the oldest goalscorer in the league's history when he converted a penalty in a 3-1 loss against Udinese in March. Regrettably, that was the only match he started this season for AC Milan.
In April, Ibrahimovic suffered a calf injury during a pre-match warm-up, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. With his contract expiring at the end of June and a season plagued by injuries, AC Milan has decided not to renew his contract.
AC Milan announced his departure on Saturday, June 3, and stated that there would be a brief ceremony to bid farewell to Ibrahimovic after the final game of the season. The club expressed gratitude for the incredible time they have spent together.
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Manager Stefano Pioli confirmed that Ibrahimovic would not be available for Sunday's match against Hellas Verona at the San Siro. However, the club assured that the Swede would be honored after the game.
Currently, Milan holds the fourth position in Serie A ahead of the match against Hellas Verona. They have already secured a spot in the Champions League for the next season. In the recent Champions League semifinal, Milan faced a defeat against Inter Milan.
Italian media speculates that Ibrahimovic might join Monza next season, which would reunite him with former Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi and his right-hand man Adriano Galliani. Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, sold Milan for 740 million euros in 2017 after three decades of glory. He then acquired Monza for a relatively lower amount the following year.