Zlatan Ibrahimovic has vowed to retire from professional football - but only when a player 'stronger' than him emerges.
The Swedish striker turns 41 next month and it had been mooted that he would bring the curtain down on his 23-year professional career after undergoing knee surgery in May.
However, Ibrahimovic has promised he will return to football 'soon' after signing a one-year extension with Milan in July.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Swede said: 'I will be back soon,'
'I'm not going to retire, I'm coming back and I won't give up.'
Milan have started their title defence in strong fashion, winning four and drawing two of their opening six games. They currently sit on 14 points, joint with Napoli and Atalanta.
However, Ibrahimovic himself did not seem too enamoured by the Rossoneri's forward options, vowing that he would eventually retire when he saw a player 'stronger' than himself emerge.
'If I see a player stronger than me, I will be ready to retire. But I haven't seen any player stronger than me yet,' he said.
'AC Milan have signed a top player with Charles de Ketelaere - give him some time.'
Currently, Milan's preferred centre-forward is former Arsenal and Chelsea player Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has started the season in impressive fashion, notching three goals in his six appearances.
However, new arrival Divock Origi, who was allowed to leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer, has not hit the ground running with some already writing his Milan career off.
