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Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan return suffers another setback

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan
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Milan boss Pioli has confirmed the Swedish striker remains unavailable for the club’s next match.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss AC Milan’s trip to Rome on Monday night to face Lazio in a Serie A match.

The 39-year-old, who recently signed a new deal for next season, has missed Milan’s last two games. He was absent against Genoa due to suspension before a muscle problem ruled him out of the midweek defeat to Sassuolo.

But while Zlatan has made progress on his recovery, Stefano Pioli insists he is not ready to return yet.

The Milan manager, therefore, will settle on forwards Mario Mandzukic and Rafael Leao instead.

“Ibra is better now but he won’t be playing tomorrow,” confirmed Pioli on the club’s website. “He should feature against Benevento.”

The head coach added: “Mario is definitely better. He will start alongside Leao. They both have the right attributes to help us in the opponent’s half.”

Mandzukic is yet to score in his six Serie A appearances since joining Milan in January. Leao, on the other hand, has found the back of the net six times and provided five assists in 25 appearances.

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