Ibrahimovic says he ‘feels at home’ with Milan as Gazidis provides update on contract extension



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The Swedish forward, whose current contract expires next summer, sees the Rossoneri as the “top of the top” of all the clubs he has played for.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he “feels at home” with AC Milan, while Ivan Gazidis has spoken out on contract extension rumors surrounding the veteran striker.

Ibrahimovic has enjoyed an end-of-career rebirth since returning to Milan for a second period in December 2019.

The former Sweden international returned to Europe after two years of MLS success with LA Galaxy, and has since proven he can still deliver cargo at the highest level.

The 39-year-old, who secured an initial six-month contract at San Siro, has scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for the Rossoneri in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign, helping them advance to the Europa League.

Milan have rewarded Ibrahimovic with a new one-year contract, and his form has continued under Stefano Pioli this season.

Ibrahimovic has found the net 11 times in his last ten appearances for Pioli’s side, inspiring their rise to the top of the Serie A table.

Discussions about another renewal now swirl as Ibrahimovic heads into the final six months of his current San Siro deal, and he has now admitted he feels completely settled in the Italian capital.

“I have played with many clubs and I have respect for all of my clubs, great memories – but Milan is the club where I feel at home,” Ibrahimovic said Gazzetta dello Sport. “I go to Milanello every morning and I’m in no rush to get home, because I’m home. I felt like this the first time I came to Milan, it was in 2010.

“With Galliani and Berlusconi, with the team, everyone who worked there, there was another feeling, another atmosphere. They made you feel at home. I liked it because I could be myself and in at the same time I was playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. That’s why Milan is at the top for me. “

However, Milan CEO Gazidis revealed that negotiations with Ibrahimovic over an extension have not yet started.

“We haven’t talked about the renewal yet,” the San Siro chief said in his own interview with Newspaper. “It will be a decision not only of the club, but also of his. He is a special person with extraordinary motivation and great intelligence.

“This combination gives him great strength in everything he does. We had already tried to sign him in January 2019, but he told us no because the story with the Galaxy was not over.

“Ibra keeps the group moving because he challenges you to give more, and that challenge is accepted by everyone, players and clubs. He makes a difference.”

Ibrahimovic echoed Gazidis’ feelings about the impact he has had at Milan over the past year, with his belief that his strong winning mentality has rubbed off on his teammates.

“Winning is my drug. It’s hard to explain, but when I’m on the pitch I have to win. At any cost, always. I have a 95% success rate in training, in matches training, ”he said. “It’s not a lie. When. I lose, you know, but that doesn’t happen often because I don’t lose. I’m obsessed with winning, maybe a little too much.

“Maybe it’s understood with the team too, like in the draw with Parma – maybe six months ago they would have been happy, but this time they were all angry, the next day they l ‘were still. “

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