Allegri confident of retaining Ibrahimovic

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident that Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to continue playing for his team and is still hungry to win more titles.

Allegri was speaking in the wake of the 30-year-old striker’s revelation last week that he was ‘starting to get old’ and that ‘playing football has become more and more of a routine job’ for him.

Ibrahimovic’s statements have since sparked rumours that he could be the subject of a bid from Spanish giants Real Madrid during the January transfer window, but Allegri is confident that he will retain the services of the Sweden international.

“Sometimes words can be misinterpreted,” the Italian is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I don’t believe that Ibrahimovic is tired because the season has only just started.”

“He and everyone else at Milan want to return to get results like last season. I am convinced that Zlatan wants to remain at Milan and return to win with this club.”

Ibrahimovic was instrumental in Milan’s first Serie A triumph since 2004 last season and has a contract with the club that lasts until June 2015.