Milan will stick by Ibra: Allegri

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has denied that the club would back away from signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic permanently.

The Swede’s successful reintroduction to the Serie A, following a poor first season in La Liga with Barcelona, has been soured by on-field disciplinary issues.

Ibrahimovic is serving a three-match suspension for abusing a match official during the side’s win over Fiorentina which resulted in a straight red card.

It was also his second red card in consecutive matches which prompted Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi to publicly express his disappointment with the former Blaugrana player’s behaviour.

But the Rosseneri coach dismissed comments that it could lead to the striker’s departure in the summer.

“I believe that Ibra will stay at Milan and that he has been exemplary this season aside from this month in which he has paid dearly for inappropriate behaviour,” Allegri said.

“He has done extraordinary things above all in the first five months and he’ll get back on track after his suspension.”

“I believe that Ibra wanted to repay us after his initial two-match ban so it’s a great disappointment for him to be suspended again.”