Former Inter sporting director Marco Branca discussed AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the fact that he’ll be playing in Serie A at the age of 39 in an interview with Italian radio broadcaster TMW Radio yesterday.

“He’s a champion, from any point of view. Hyper-professional, he’s always looked after himself very well, he had no vices and from birth he was very strong.”

He discussed how both Juventus and the Nerazzurri helped to shape the Swedish striker into the player that he is today.

“Slowly, in Juve and then from us, he learned to be a real striker, where he used to love scoring. Here he learned to score a lot of goals, in a striker’s life that’s important and you have to make a difference with your numbers.”

Finally, Branca discussed Ibrahimovic’s play style now and how he still performs well.

“He doesn’t run the same way as before, but it’s enough and he moves forward. He’s on another level, so he doesn’t even struggle.”

The 38-year-old Swedish striker spent three years of his career with the Nerazzurri from 2006 to 2009, leaving the summer before the Milanese side won the Treble under coach Jose Mourinho.

In his time with Inter, Ibrahimovic made 117 appearances across all competitions, playing a total of 9,712 minutes with the club. In that time, he scored 66 goals and provided 29 assists, winning three league titles and two Supercoppa Italiana with the club. He is currently contracted to AC Milan.