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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has pledged to help AC Milan win silverware again, professing his love for a club that brought him happiness.
Ever since Ibrahimovic was appointed as a ‘Consultant to the AC Milan ownership’ by RedBird in December 2023, there have been question marks about what exactly he does on a daily basis. When put to him, these questions have usually been met by quips or jokes.
There was even talk of the ownership being frustrated by Ibrahimovic misinterpreting his role, and now – from a media point of view at least – he seems to have taken a step back. There have been less interviews and he rarely speaks before or after games. Now, though, more insight has arrived.
Zlatan reveals all
Ibrahimovic spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview that was published in this morning’s edition and he discussed all aspects of Milan, from signings to ambitions.
Ibra, what’s life like as a director now that you’re a partner at RedBird and a consultant for Milan?
“I already have grey hair… I arrived with a ponytail, now I’m like this, soon I’ll be bald…”
Jokes aside?
“It all started after a 25-year career in football, at full speed. Then I had 3-4 months of freedom to do what I wanted, without a schedule, I spent a lot of time with my children and… after 25 years, I met my wife. And the good news is that we’re still together!
“After three months, I saw Giorgio Furlani and he said, ‘I want you to meet Gerry Cardinale.’ I did: twice in Milan, the third in Los Angeles. But I didn’t want anything, I felt like a free man, I didn’t want to start making plans again. He insisted, he challenged me, and I always said no.
“Then I got curious. I asked him three things to agree: 1) I have to be myself, no one can cage me in; 2) if I come in, it has to be long-term; 3) I’m coming back to win. He said, ‘that’s why we’re here.'”
But can you explain exactly what you do?
“My role hasn’t changed, it’s still the same: I represent the owners. Last year, I did more than I had to. No one asked me to, I just felt like doing it, but I didn’t like it, because if I can’t be myself, I don’t feel good. I don’t want to be caged in, and in fact, I didn’t want an office. I go to the people I need to talk to.”
The impression is that the club ended up filling the gaps in the staff…
“Yes, the club has filled what was missing. Now there’s a figure who’s in constant contact with the players and the coach, Igli Tare, and he does it well. I come here to Casa Milan, sometimes I go to Milanello: I speak every day with Furlani and with Gerry, who is very involved.
“We study what’s needed to improve Milan, we develop strategies, and in the end Gerry decides, but he has a lot of trust in those at the club. And then I’m also involved in the corporate and entertainment side of RedBird.
“I’m the type of person who, if I don’t know something, keeps quiet, watches, and learns. Of course, in other areas I have more experience and I speak more, or much more.”
For example, in Turin, did you speak in the dressing room? Did you pin Leao to the wall?
“There’s a coach. If I can help without disturbing him, I’ll do it. But you don’t get ahead of the coach; you’ll only make things difficult for him. I may be better friends with the players than he is, but I’m still Ibra with Ibra’s experience.
“Before, I only had a strong approach. Over time, I’ve learned that to get into the players’ heads, sometimes you have to be softer. And you have to insist.”
Returning to Leao…
“So, in Turin, I was in the dressing room. Everyone was angry, everyone, Allegri, because we could have won. And even Leao, who had missed two goals. Let’s remember that during pre-season he was the best, then he was out for two months, now he has to get back in shape.
“Of course, we expect magic, because Leao is magic! Of course, we’ll always talk about him, because he’s one of the best players in the world, and I’m not saying this for marketing purposes, but because I played football.
“I saw him as a kid, now he has two children: it’s a journey. They say he’s already 26, but I matured at 28. And anyway, when we won the Scudetto, I can say he won it all by himself…”
But how? You were there…
“I don’t take credit, I want to give it to others. That was my role that year. At the start of the season, I asked: how many have won something? One, maybe two, raised their hand. And how many have played in the Champions League? Again, one-two.
“It was a group of players who had been on the bench in their teams; they needed an alpha player, a leader to follow. It was all about, ‘Ibra, shall we go left or right?’ When we lost, I’d say, ‘Just send me to speak,’ so we’d leave the team alone: for me, it was like having breakfast.
“A strong group was born, and it started to fly. When we won the Scudetto, I saw them cry; it was the greatest satisfaction. But I said it right away on the first day of my return, you can go and check.”
And what do you feel like saying this year?
“That the team is very competitive and capable of achieving good results. It was already that way last year, but it was a strange year. As soon as we got back on our feet, we fell right back, but we learned a lot. We still won a trophy and finished second in the Coppa Italia. But we’re Milan, we know that.
“The club was very good at selling players who weren’t part of the project or who had other reasons. They chose an experienced coach who brings balance and stability. And he brought what was missing: a bit of experience.”
Are you hiding? That’s not like you…
“If you know me even a little, you know my mentality is different from everyone else’s. It’s a winner.”
Is aiming for fourth place not enough?
“Milan’s DNA is winning, especially in Europe, and we have to get back there. No one wants to change Milan, its culture, or its tradition. Also because I give you a rule: no one changes Milan, it’s Milan that changes you.
“At Milanello, you smell victory; after being there, you never stay the same player. At Milanello, from the chef to the gardener, everyone ensures that Allegri and the team can perform at their best.”
Can Modric be the same at this Milan as you were in the Scudetto year?
“We’re different. He’s a leader on the pitch, off it he takes up little space, but he brought the experience we were lacking. Even if he hadn’t played a wow factor, just being around him would have given you something. On the pitch, we told him, ‘Come on and do it yourself.’
“Am I surprised by how he’s playing? No, he’s been playing like this for twenty years. Many stay at the top for two years and then you don’t see them anymore. Others stay at the top for twenty years and are true champions even if they don’t win the Ballon d’Or: you’re right in front of him.”
Rabiot is also giving a lot…
“He was supposed to come a year ago, we tried but he wanted to play in France.”
Who could be the surprise?
“Pavlovic can still improve. Gimenez, once he gets going, will score a lot of goals. Jashari is top-notch. And Ricci will also improve: the team is a good mix of present and future prospects.”
Has Allegri changed much since you were playing?
“I helped him win his first trophy. At that time, Milan were all champions; the hard part was sitting them on the bench; on the pitch, they were on autopilot. He was very good at managing.
“Now, things are different; there are fewer champion egos; it’s a very open team. And Allegri has also had his way, he’s already won a lot; he knows how to do it.”
What about your opponents? Napoli, Inter, Juve?
“I don’t look at others, but not out of arrogance, because if I depend on others, it means I’m not strong enough. I have to become strong, and the others have to look at me.”
Your two sons – Maximilian, 19, and Vincent, 17 – both play for Milan: one for Milan futuro, the other for the Under-18s. What kind of dad are you? Do you follow up close or from afar?
“Until they were 16, they bore their mother’s surname. Then they came to me to tell me they wanted to be called Ibrahimovic. They were ready, they felt like it, and I made them understand that it won’t be easy.”
No intervention on the coaches?
“When they started, I didn’t set foot at Vismara for two years. I don’t know if I made a mistake, because I’m also a father who wants to enjoy their time, but I didn’t want to cause any confusion. Now that they’re playing, I help, I give advice, I follow them. But I judge them like everyone else.
“What really made me angry were all the stupid things that came out. For example, Camarda not signing because of me. I didn’t even get in the way of signing for my son. It wouldn’t be fair: if they arrive, it must be thanks to them.
“It’s clear that if it were up to me, they’d play in the first team and the national team. But they’re as important as everyone else in our Academy.”
Milan Futuro were relegated to the amateur league after a year in Serie C…
“We didn’t create a team to ‘survive’ in Serie C. But we built a platform designed to bridge the gap between the Primavera and the First Team,” explains Ibra, “a crucial step that has been missing for too long and to develop talent.
“This is a long-term project that involves the entire youth sector: from the Primavera to the First Team. The owners believed strongly in it and decided to invest with conviction, and they are satisfied with the work that Kirovski and Vergine are carrying out.”
In short, you won’t mention the word Scudetto to me?
“Do I believe it? Yes, we all have to believe it. But it’s a process, it’s teamwork.”
Have we gone from Ibra being God to being on even footing?
“Wait a minute: Ibra is still God. If I were on the pitch, I had all the answers; in the stands, I still suffer from not being able to help the team. I have no personal goals; everything I do is for Milan. And to get back to winning.”
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