Zlatan Ibrahimovic's son signs first professional contract with his old club AC Milan... with the Rossoneri legend still involved with the side as a senior advisor to owners RedBird

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's son Maximilian has signed his first professional contract with Serie A giants AC Milan. 

Ibrahimovic Sr hung up his boots in 2023 and bade a heartfelt - and very emotional - farewell to Milan fans, having been plagued by knee injuries in the latter years of his career.

He swiftly has joined RedBird Capital Partners as an operating partner, serving as a senior advisor to the club's ownership and senior management firm. In this role he collaborates with its global investment team and support the firm's investment portfolio across sports, media and entertainment.

The former Sweden international also reportedly pushed for the club to set up an Under 23 squad in Serie C, following in the footsteps of Juventus and Atalanta. 

According to Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Ibrahimovic's 17-year-old son has put pen to paper on a professional deal with the Rossoneri that will keep him at the club until 2027. 

The youngster will reportedly get his game time in Milan's new ‘Futuro’ squad in the third-tier of Italian football. The winger netted three times in 19 appearances for the Under 18s last season.

Under new head coach Paulo Fonseca, Milan are hoping to secure their first league title in three years and only their third in the last two decades. 

Earlier this month, Ibrahimovic announced that former Premier League star Divock Origi has been demoted to AC Milan's youth team after being told he is no longer part of the club's plans. 

The 29-year-old was reported to have signed a four-year deal after joining Milan on a free transfer from the Reds in 2022.

However, according to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Ibrahimovic has made it clear that the Belgian will no part in Milan's first-team plans this season.

'Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans,' he said. 'They will be part of the youth team as they’re not included in our project.'

Origi's maiden campaign in Serie A was hampered by injuries and he was restricted to just ten starts, with former boss Stefano Pioli preferring the likes of Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao.

Never a particularly prolific forward, Origi struggled at the City Ground after joining Forest on deadline day in September.