AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is happy playing for coach Stefano Pioli.

Pioli helped convince the Swede to sign a new deal for this season.

He recalled, “I told him I would call it a day, as I thought of the sacrifices and my family being in Sweden. Pioli said: 'I respect that.' However, the next day, he called me again. 'I let you go too easy, but if you don't stay, it'll be a different team.'

“I went on vacation, but then I thought this is a fascinating and difficult challenge. I didn't want to hang up my boots feeling regret. So I called Mino (Raiola) and told him to close the deal.

“I like the way the coach asks us to play, as he found a way of getting the best out of my qualities. He talks to me a lot and asks me things, just like I do with my teammates. They respect me and I feel that sense of responsibility, I relish it."