Zlatan Ibrahimovic to retire after Euros

De Bruyne, whose Belgium side take on Sweden in their final Euro 2016 group match in what could be Ibrahimovic’s last in worldwide football, believes the deal would be great for both parties.

Goals from Aaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Gareth Bale, his third in consecutive games at Euro 2016, ensured that Wales won Group B ahead of England, which produced only a dreary 0-0 tie with Slovakia.

Even if Sweden lose and fail to qualify for the knockout stages, Ibrahimovic said he would not be disappointed with such an end to his worldwide career.

“So wherever I go, wherever I come, I’ll always bring the Swedish flag with me and stand with it. So for me disappointment doesn’t exist, only proudness”.

Ibrahimovic had been included on the 35-man preliminary roster for the Rio Olympics released last week by Sweden. I don’t want to be talking them up too much”, he suddenly says with a laugh, “but they’ve a bit of everything, that’s why they’re a good team.

The 34-year-old has 62 goals for Sweden and could yet create another bit of history this week as he looks to become the first player to score in four European Championship tournaments.

Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian is set to regain his starting place for Italy on Wednesday, with boss Antonio Conte ready to make changes against Republic of Ireland.

Ibrahimovic, the captain, is now preparing for Sweden’s final Group E game against Belgium in Nice – a match which will prove his last if results to do not go his side’s way. “We need to be better in offence, of course, if we are going to win the game”. ‘We have one global player that’s really at the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and that’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic’.

Sweden coach Erik Hamrén said “this will be a big loss. But I don’t have any regrets”, Ibrahimovic added.

The former PSG striker thus faces what could potentially be his last ever game for Sweden, though there is no doubting his pedigree and legacy in Sweden’s footballing history.