ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC’S super agent Mino Raiola believes the legendary Swede will be able to play until he’s 50.
And the Italian admitted he is still in such good shape that Ibra even does press-ups with Raiola sitting on him.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic pictured with agent Mino RaiolaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Despite turning 40 on his next birthday, Ibrahimovic is currently leading the Serie A goalscoring charts with ten in just six matches – two more than Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku.
Raiola told De Volkskrant: “Zlatan is in such good shape, sometimes he continues to do press-ups when I am sitting on him. And you know I am not light.
“He can play on until he’s 50 years old, but he only wants to play at the top level.
“He’s certainly at the top level now, as he resuscitated Milan and is now 90 per cent of that team.
“He inspires people not by what he says, but what he does. There’s also a little glint in his eye and a wink in everything he says to the media, the truth is he’s self-critical to an unimaginable degree. Failure just drives him crazy.
“Where were PSG before Ibrahimovic? Where were Milan? He sets the standards that clubs then benefit from for years to come.
“He passes on these lessons to the next generation and that’s why he should continue for as long as possible.”
Ibrahimovic sensationally revealed how he decided to retire in the summer – before performing a U-turn on his decision.
Ibrahimovic is leading the Serie A scoring charts with ten goalsCredit: Reuters
Raiola is backing the veteran striker to play until he is 50Credit: AFP
The veteran put the change of heart down to a serious knee injury he endured while at Manchester United in 2017.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said: “(AC Milan coach) Pioli asked me what I wanted to do [about his future].
“I replied: ‘No, I am not going to continue. Enough. My family is also important, I’m here alone, it’s a sacrifice. For six months it’s fine, but I don’t want to stay another year.
“Pioli said to me: ‘Okay, I respect you, okay.’ The next day we talked again: ‘No, I’ve decided to retire. Forget the contract, at this age it’s not important.’
“Then something changed. I didn’t want to have any regrets. I called Milan and decided to go on.
“After the injury I told myself to continue as long as I could hold on.
“Without football who am I? When you don’t do what you’ve done for 25 years, it’s not easy. Am I ready? No, because I feel too good.”
Watch Mino Raiola hang up on Simon Jordan in furious row over Ibrahimovic’s FIFA 21 image rights live on talkSPORT
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
