Milan, Mar 18 (IANS): Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a fundraiser to help fight coronavirus and urged fellow footballers to help fight the pandemic. Ibrahimovic is currently playing for AC Milan in Italy which is among the worst affected countries due to the viral outbreak.

In the post that he made on Instagram, the former Sweden captain said: "Italy has always given me so much and, in this dramatic moment, I want to give back even more to this country that I love. I decided, together with the people who are working with me, to create a fundraiser for Humanitas hospitals and to use my communication power to spread the message wider. It's a serious issue and we need concrete help that's not just about a video."

"I count on the generosity of my colleagues, of all professional athletes and of those who want to make a small or large donation according to their possibilities, to kick this virus away.

"Together we can really help hospitals and doctors and nurses who selflessly work every day to save our lives. Because today we are the ones cheering for them! Let's together kick the CoronaVirus away and win this match!

"And remember: if the virus don't go to Zlatan, Zlatan goes to the virus!"

The Kick the Virus Away fundraiser has thus far raised 124,384 Euros three hours after he made the video with a target of 1 million.