Galliani recalls Ibrahimovic pursuit to ‘please’ Allegri in Scudetto season: “With Berlusconi’s money”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic first joined AC Milan in 2010, but things could have been much different had it not been for Adriano Galliani. 

Ibrahimovic is one of the most recognisable names in European football, and his relationship with Milan makes his name more popular in this sphere than elsewhere, perhaps. The Swede has had three stories at the club, each different.

In 2010, he arrived from Barceona on loan, where the Rossoneri won the Scudetto and his move was made permanent in the year that followed. After that, he headed to Paris, but he would have another rodeo in red and black before the end of his playing days.

10 years after his first spell, he rejoined the Diavolo and was part of that Scudetto squad, playing a key role that season.

Galliani’s work

Now, he resides in Casa Milan as a vessel for Gerry Cardinale. Perhaps things could have been much different had it not been for Galliani’s persistence for the striker 16 years ago, and the former CEO spoke about the move via Radio Rossonera.

“I believe that a manager must understand which are the emerging coaches must know how to guess who can make a career and who cannot. Recently, it also happened to me with Palladino.

“I think that after so many years of football, I did 10 years of Monza from 1975 to 1985 before meeting Berlusconi, then with Berlusconi I did 31 years of Milan, then after 7 years of Monza, I think that after 51 years of football, as sooner or later one makes spaghetti learns to make spaghetti.

“So, as a great football enthusiast, at that time we had broken up with Ancelotti in 2009, I thought that the Milan coach could be my friend Leonardo, who had a two-year contract, and instead in 2010 Leonardo decided to leave the bench. I find myself having to choose a coach.”

Bringing Ibrahimovic and Robinho to Milan…

“A very nice summer happens there because to try to please Max, I tried to make two shots in the last two days, with Berlusconi’s money, so I have little merit, who were Ibra on August 28 and Robinho.

“Helga remembers Ibra because at night I went crazy because I couldn’t close the operation. We had a room and a living room. She couldn’t find me in bed and thought I had run away, then she went to the living room and saw me walking all the time.

“So Ibra arrives and on the very last day from Manchester City, Robinho. Then we had given him two not bad strikers, and Max in the first year won the Scudetto.”