Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that his desire to keep on playing as long as possible has been key to him still performing at his best late in his career.
Despite missing two games following a positive coronavirus test, the 39-year-old has enjoyed a stunning start to the season with AC Milan, who are four points clear at the top of Serie A.
With 10 goals already from just six games, the former Sweden international is also top scorer in Serie A and is showing no signs of slowing down despite being approaching the end of his career at the elite end of the game.
But Ibrahimovic admits he is not thinking about retirement while he is still able to compete and claims that a serious ligament injury that kept him out for seven months while at United in 2017 has inspired him to keep going for as long as he can.
'After my injury I said to myself that as long as I can play football I want to play,' he told the BBC.
'But when you play on this level it's all about performance. If you perform, if you bring results, then you are still on the top level.
Ibrahimovic is back for his second spell at the Milan club, hoping to restore them to their former glories and end a 10-year wait for a league title.
The Swede was part of the side that last won Serie A in 2011 while on loan from Barcelona ahead of staying for another season on a permanent deal before departing for Paris Saint-Germain following 61 games and 42 goals
Although he admits the club is now a different challenge to the one he left in 2012, he is aware that he cannot live on past glories or reputation and that he is motivated to play to his very best to keep his place in the side.
'As soon as you don't do that someone else will come and they will perform, he added. 'I like that pressure because I don't want to be here because of what I've done before. I'm here because of what I do at the present time and that is the pressure I put on myself.
'Whatever I did before I don't bring it on the table now because it's like I have to demonstrate every day who I am. That's why I bring out the best of me every day. I'll keep going until I can't do these things I'm doing.'
After struggling to hit his best form at United following his return from injury he looked set to see out his career in the United States after joining LA Galaxy only to return to the San Siro earlier this year.
He enjoyed an impressive half-season back at the club with 10 goals from 18 games and intended to retire to spend more time with his family.
However he states that discussions with boss Stefano Pioli in the summer convinced him to continue.
'Pioli asked me what I wanted to do [about his future],' Ibrahimovic told Sky Sport Italia.
'I replied: "No, I am not going to continue. Enough. My family is also important, I'm here alone, it's a sacrifice. For six months it's fine, but I don't want to stay another year."
'Pioli said to me: "Okay, I respect you, okay." The next day we talked again: "No, I've decided to retire. Forget the contract, at this age it's not important."
'Then something changed. I didn't want to have any regrets. I called Milan and decided to go on.'
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