The irrepressible Zlatan Ibrahimovic has achieved another major milestone with his 500th career club goal as AC Milan claimed a 4-0 win over Crotone to preserve their two-point lead in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic, now 39, scored AC Milan’s first two goals in the win over Crotone, netting on the half hour and again in the 64th minute, taking his season tally to 14 goals.
“It’s difficult to be surprised by Ibrahimovic because he’s a champion,” Milan boss Stefano Pioli said after the game.
“It’s difficult to maintain what he is doing, because he scores two goals every time he plays. That’s Ibra. He has helped us so much and is helping the team to grow.
“He’s a champion, an athlete who has great motivation, he takes care of his body scrupulously. Sometimes he’s tired, but he never fails.”
The Swedish veteran has played a major role in Milan’s stunning title charge, when many observers may have thought his career was practically and he’d play a bit-part role after joining the Rossoneri from Los Angeles Galaxy in December 2019.
Ibrahimovic’s club career has spanned a remarkable two decades, with success following him everywhere, from Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United.
Pioli added that he hopes the big forward will remain with Milan beyond this season when his current contract expires.
“I don’t know. Zlatan is doing well with us and the best thing is that we work well together,” he told Sky Italia.
Milan are two points ahead of city rivals Inter after 21 matches, while Juventus stayed in the hunt with a critical 2-0 victory over AS Roma on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo put Juve ahead in the 13th minute with a second-half Roger Ibanez own goal settling the contest, enabling the Old Lady to leapfrog Roma into third spot.
