Retirement didnтАЩt enter the thoughts of Zlatan Ibrahimovic while he was sidelined for eight months with a swollen left knee following surgery.
But his condition certainly had the Swedish soccer great worried.
тАЬI didnтАЩt come into a situation where I said, тАШStop,тАЩтАЭ Ibrahimovic said Tuesday. тАЬI was more (thinking) it was hopeless. Whatever I did, I didnтАЩt get positive feedback. I tried everything.тАЭ
Indeed, the AC Milan strikerтАЩs main priority quickly became simply getting back to normal health, rather than to a level required to maintain his trophy-laden soccer career.
That Ibrahimovic is back and in a position, at the age of 41, to play for his country in a European Championship qualifier is testament to his self-belief and resilience.
On Saturday, he became the oldest scorer in Serie A history and now heтАЩs hoping to be picked for Sweden’s match against Belgium on Friday for his first national team appearance in nearly a year.
тАЬIтАЩm not there (at Milan) or here for charity,тАЭ Ibrahimovic said at a news conference at SwedenтАЩs training base. тАЬIтАЩm here to play my game, to provide, and bring results through my performances.
тАЬSo hopefully I can continue to do that, and at the same time feel healthy.тАЭ
Given IbrahimovicтАЩs recent period of inactivity тАФ the game against Udinese over the weekend marked his first start since January of last year, having had his knee operation in May тАФ he is not prepared to discuss how long he has left in his playing career.
He certainly isnтАЩt thinking about Euro 2024 in Germany.
тАЬI take it day by day,тАЭ Ibrahimovic said. тАЬIf I feel good and IтАЩm selected by the coach, I will help him, the team and the country to do my best.
тАЬI think at my age, you do not think future. You think present. Even if I am the past, present and the future.тАЭ
Sweden also plays Azerbaijan in qualifying during the international break and Ibrahimovic, the countryтАЩs all-time leading scorer and possibly its greatest ever player, is unlikely to start for the team. He sees himself nowadays more as a mentor to the younger players in the squad.
тАЬI said yesterday, тАШIтАЩm sure youтАЩre wondering what IтАЩm doing here. IтАЩm sure you think IтАЩm stupid,тАЩтАЭ Ibrahimovic said about his arrival in the Sweden camp. тАЬBut I said wait until you get close to the end, then you will understand all the things I do. ThereтАЩs some kind of panic that you want it to continue.тАЭ
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
