Zlatan Ibrahimovic bids farewell to AC Milan, and he does so in a press conference organised at San Siro after Milan-Hellas Verona, which was the thirty-eighth and final matchday of the Serie A league.
The Swedish player spoke in the press room at the San Siro facility and said these words:
"I never mentioned this idea of quitting football to anyone. I had asked the club for one last match for a special moment, but even they didn't know. I also thank the journalists for their patience; now you'll have less work to do. Thank you all. Starting tomorrow, I am a free man from this world. It has been a long, long career. I am proud and happy that it has lasted this long thanks to all the people who gave me strength, adrenaline, and the desire to continue."
Ibrahimovic continued:
"Today is my last day as a professional: I also want to thank Milan and all the teams and coaches I have played with. Those who have supported me throughout my career know who they are. Now we will enjoy the future. The next chapter of my life is coming."
He added:
"Today it was raining, and I thought, 'Even God is sad.' The emotion was too strong; today I felt like a zombie. Three months ago, I would have been panicking to make such an announcement. Today, however, I accept it and I am ready, albeit a bit sad. Football has made me become a man; it has introduced me to people whom I surely would have never known otherwise. I have traveled all around the world thanks to football. And then, with Milan, there's too much emotion. The first time I arrived, it gave me happiness; the second time, love. I felt at home from day one. I came back out of passion; this team is like a second family. When I arrived, I was 39 years old, and the others were 20; I had two children at home, and I found another 25 here. They can improve even more; they are ready to move this club forward."
Ibrahimovic on the fear of stopping:
"All professionals are programmed. We follow the same routine every day for many years, and when you're programmed like that, you get used to what you do. Panic is when you wake up and no longer know what to do. Now, the adrenaline will be different. I don't have a program to follow. Normally, I have breakfast with the team, train with the team; I will miss the locker room, which is like a home where you feel protected. But now, I am calm."
On the future, Ibrahimovic said:
"For now, I just want to enjoy what I have done. It's not fair to make a decision so quickly because there are too many emotions running through me today. I want to take the time to reflect on what I have done. Then, if the situation calms down, we'll see. Being a coach or a director is a great responsibility: you are more restricted compared to being a player. You work even harder. You have to think it through carefully: if you enter a new role, you have to start from scratch. I'm taking my time.
The veteran striker also remembers his late agent, Mino Raiola:
"Everything I've done, I've done it with Mino, even outside of football. I was alone, I didn't have someone by my side. I'm very private about my things, but I shared them with Mino. Then his tragedy happened, and it was never the same. If it were up to him, I would still be playing football because he wanted his commission... Sorry, Mino, but it's the truth (laughs)."
Ibrahimovic on the decision to retire:
"The moment has come when I accepted the decision. The choice had to come from me. Many have expressed their opinion, but I had to be the one to say enough. And the moment has arrived. It's time to enjoy football and private life in a different way. I had offers, but they weren't interesting. If someone has agreed not to continue, the offers don't matter."
