‘I’m NOT a mascot’: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoffs at idea of bit-part role as he claims he feels ‘in form’ after signing new £6m contract at AC Milan… now 38-year-old wants to take Serie A club ‘back to where it belongs’
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a one-year contract at AC Milan over the weekend
- The striker was released by the club this summer but he has signed a new deal
- The 38-year-old claims he is not a mascot and is here to help the team this term
- Ibrahimovic was part of the AC Milan side to last win the Scudetto in 2011
Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to take AC Milan back to where it belongs following the iconic Swedish striker’s announcement that he is signing a new deal at AC Milan.
The 38-year-old penned a new £6million deal to stay at the San Siro for the 2020-21 season after he was released by the Serie A giants following the end of his six-month contract signed back in January.
As Ibrahimovic links up with his Milan team-mates once again in pre-season training, the striker claims he is ‘not a mascot’ and is there to help the club rise up the Italian top-flight table again.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed he is not a mascot as he signed a new one-year deal at AC Milan
The striker signed a £6million contract over the weekend that does not include any bonuses
He told the AC Milan official channel: ‘I’m very happy to be here again. Finally everything’s sorted and I’ve finally come back to where I feel at home – now we’ve got to work and achieve results.
‘I’m not here to be a mascot. I’m here to achieve results and to help the squad, the manager and the club to take Milan back to where it belongs.
‘In the last six months we’ve done well but we haven’t won anything. There’s the possibility to start working hard and making sacrifices to achieve our goals.’
Ibrahimovic was part of the AC Milan side that last won the Serie A title back in 2011
Ibrahimovic has rejoined an AC Milan side who has not won the Scudetto in a decade, while the club haven’t reached the Champions League in six years.
The Swedish striker’s new Milan contract is just a basic salary and does not include any goal or appearance-related bonuses, according to Sky Sports Italia.
Ibrahimovic had a fantastic second-half of the 2020-21 season, scoring 10 goals in 18 Serie A matches and will be looking to extend Milan’s 13-match unbeaten record when the new season kicks off again in September.
The 38-year-old scored 10 goals in 18 Serie A appearances last season as Milan finished 6th
That is not enough for the forward, however, as he hopes to see the Milan fans heading back into the San Siro after the coronavirus pandemic forced matches to be played behind-closed-doors.
He added: ‘I feel fine and in form. I hope to see the Milan fans back in the stadium soon.
‘The team needs its fans that blow the roof off at the San Siro.’