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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes retirement vow with defiant AC Milan message

Legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has promised he will not hang up his boots until he has ended AC Milan 's 11-year trophy drought.

The 40-year-old Swede is well into the third decade of a professional career which has brought over 570 goals for club and country as well as countless honours with many of Europe's greatest clubs.

However, age appears to finally be catching up with Ibrahimovic and a recurring Achilles tendon issue has limited him to just 19 appearances in all competitions this season.

That being said, the former Barcelona and Manchester United star remains a force to be reckoned with when fully fit and he has scored a creditable eight goals in 15 Serie A games.

Ibrahimovic - never one to doubt his own ability - believes he has much more to offer at the top level and pledged he will not retire until he brings silverware back to the Rossoneri.

Where does Zlatan Ibrahimovic rank among Europe's greatest ever strikers? Have your say in the comments!

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has struggled to stay fit this season (Getty Images)

"My future is football, my world is football," he said. "I am disappointed that I am not able to play at the moment, this really pains me, especially when the team is doing well.

"I want to be there and help the team, we've done great things since I arrived and now we are only missing one element: a trophy.

"We are fighting to achieve this, I won't quit until I have won something with this Milan side."

Manager Stefano Pioli has led Milan to the summit of the Serie A table with only goal difference separating them and leaders Napoli.

Local rivals Inter Milan, the defending champions, have failed to win any of their last four league games to leave them trailing by two points, although they do have a game in hand.

The two San Siro clubs will face off in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, with the first leg scheduled for Tuesday, presenting Ibrahimovic with another chance to lift a trophy.

The veteran striker has vowed to play on until he has won another trophy with AC Milan (AFP via Getty Images)

The Malmo native won Serie A in 2011 during his first stint with Milan but they have not lifted a major honour since then, settling for Supercoppa Italiana triumphs later that year and in 2016.

In a major boost for his side, Ibrahimovic is believed to have returned to light training over one month on from his last appearance, which came against Juventus in Serie A.

It appears unlikely Pioli will risk him in the first clash against Inter but the second leg is not until 20 April, so he is all but certain to feature then provided he can stay fit.

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