Veteran AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović announced his immediate retirement from football at the end of an emotional night at San Siro on Sunday. (More Football News)
Ibrahimović was out of contract with the Serie A club at the end of the season and Milan had already announced there would be a special ceremony after its match against Hellas Verona to bid farewell to the 41-year-old Swede.
But Zlatan Ibrahimović later revealed in a news conference that no one knew the big news he was about to drop.
바카라Even my family didn바카라t know, because I wanted that when I announced it everyone heard it at the same time,바카라 he said.
Ibrahimović was given a guard of honor by his teammates as he walked out after the match at San Siro. He struggled to hold back the tears as he took the microphone and said: 바카라The time has come to say goodbye to football but not to you.바카라
Zlatan Ibrahimović scored 93 goals in 163 appearances over two spells at Milan. He returned in January 2020 and helped Milan win the Serie A title last year 바카라 his second league trophy with the Rossoneri.
But he has struggled with injuries and only made four appearances this season, after undergoing a knee operation last year.
바카라I have so many memories and emotions inside this stadium,바카라 Ibrahimović said. 바카라The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.
바카라I want to thank my family 바카라 I want to thank my second family: the players. I want to thank the coach and his staff for the responsibility, I want to thank the directors for the opportunity. Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you fans.바카라
He also enjoyed trophy-laden spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Juventus and Ajax, having started his career with hometown club Malmo.
He made 122 appearances for Sweden, scoring 62 goals.
Many of the fans at San Siro on Sunday were in tears, as were most of his teammates, who were all wearing jerseys with his name and squad number on the back.
Ibrahimović told reporters he struggled to find someone who wasn바카라t crying as he looked around during his speech for someone to help give him the strength to stem his own tears.
Zlatan Ibrahimović also couldn바카라t resist making a joke.
바카라I woke up this morning and it was raining, and I thought 바카라Even God is crying,바카라바카라 he said with a smile.
There were emotional scenes even before kickoff as a giant banner was unfurled at one end of the stadium with the words 바카라Godbye.바카라 The fans chanted his name and Ibrahimović was moved to tears as he cupped his hands in the shape of a heart and blew kisses to the supporters.
However, he ended his speech with a smile and in typical Zlatan Ibrahimović fashion.
He said: 바카라It바카라s too difficult, there are so many emotions going through me now. But I will say, 바카라I바카라ll see you around, if you바카라re lucky.바카라바카라
Ibrahimović then walked around the stadium to the song 바카라Simply the Best.바카라
