AC Milan ‘to meet with injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic next week to convince 40-year-old striker to sign new deal’

AC MILAN are set to hold a meeting with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his agent next week to discuss a new deal, according to reports.

Ibrahimovic, 40, became a free agent this week following the expiry of his contract with AC Milan.

EPA

Ibrahimovic is set to negotiate a new deal with AC Milan next week[/caption]

But the Italian giants are eager to retain his services by tabling a new deal in the next few days.

According to Sky Sport Italia, the club have scheduled a meeting with the striker and his agent in a bid to tempt him to stay.

Manager Stefano Pioli sees Ibrahimovic as an important presence in the dressing room and on the pitch despite his recurring injury issues.

The striker was almost forced into retirement recently due to a severe knee injury.

He played without an ACL for six months and now faces a gruelling period of recovery after undergoing surgery.

He opened up about the ordeal in May with an emotional Instagram post which read: “For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee. Swollen knee for six months.

“I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months.

“Took more than 20 injections in six months. Emptied the knee once a week for six months.

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“Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months because of the pain.”

But despite the issue he played a huge part in helping AC Milan to their first Scudetto since 2011.