Today marks 1,000 days since Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to AC Milan was officially announced, and it has certainly been a remarkable journey since that point.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recalls how Ibrahimovic came back for a second spell at Milan that began back on 2 January 2020 and it has been nothing short of eventful, with three months without football due to the pandemic, hitting double figures in goals again, releasing numerous memorable catchphrases and hoisting the Scudetto.
around Italy, the scudetto, the catchphrases and even the long stop, not the first of a career that it will end just as it started: fighting.
On the first day of Ibra’s return there was a satisfied smile after arriving at Linate, and there is almost a line that can be drawn between the Milan before and after Zlatan. The home defeat against Genoa on 8 March 2020 was one of a few low points, but then three months later Milan had put three goals past Lazio, four past Juve, five past Bologna and reached the Europa League qualifies.
Zlatan scored ten goals and compared himself to Benjamin Button, i.e. the older he gets, the more he rejuvenates. During the lockdown he stayed close to the squad during the individual training through videochat and WhatsApp group speeches, making a real impression on certain players including and especially Rafael Leao.
Then, 2020-21 was the year of construction as Milan remained unbeaten for 27 rounds and at the end of the season they returned to the Champions League after seven years, losing the Scudetto fight against Inter only due to injuries really. Ibra closed with 17 goals in 27 games, several assists, an overhead kick against Udinese and a fight with Lukaku.
Then, fast forward to May and the post-match speech Ibra made in Reggio Emilia in front of an exhausted dressing room, one that had finally lifted the Scudetto with a win against Sassuolo in front of a stadium that was almost all Milan fans.
A cycle that began ten years earlier with the title won at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma was closed. However, it is not fully closed as he is still at Milan after a knee operation that will keep him out until the new year. He is 40 years old and does not want to stop, partly for the fear of what he will do after, but mostly because he believes there is more of this story to write.
What a champion thank u you are best player in the world ! Ibrakadabra