Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not expected to make any public statements in the coming hours, but he must remain close to the AC Milan squad during what is a difficult time.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, Ibrahimovic will become fundamental in the next two weeks for the words he will say behind the scenes at Milanello rather than what he tells the media, both journalists and his followers on social media.
Zlatan is Gerry Cardinale’s right-hand man at Milan and he takes care of everything, from the pitch to marketing. However, his role is particularly important in managing the dynamics of the dressing room because has experienced situations like these first-hand.
He has praised some coaches and argued with others, and he knows that environments that breed success. Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada do not have a successful past as players, nor any at all really. They have never argued with Pep Guardiola nor grown under the wing of Fabio Capello.
It is up to Zlatan, more than the others, to understand what is happening at Milan, which includes the methods Paulo Fonseca is trying to get across, the Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao cooling break saga, the defensive disasters seen so far, Rafael Leao’s social media quarrel with Paolo Di Canio and what is lacking in the mentality of the group.
Ibrahimovic’s absence at Lazio made the news, even if Cardinale was in the stands with Furlani and Moncada. Fonseca’s choice to leave Theo and Leao on the bench was well known and perhaps Zlatan’s presence in front of the cameras could have helped diffuse things.
Ibra is increasingly important at Milan. He makes decisions, he talks to everyone at all levels, he wants to be at the centre of the processes. He doesn’t call agents on the market and he doesn’t deal in person – for that, there is Furlani and Moncada – but he talks to the players and those calls often end up being important.
Alvaro Morata, when he spoke for the first time as a Milan player, even mentioned him as being fundamental: “Zlatan’s trust, the team, the coach convinced me. I can’t wait to get started. Ibrahimovic has given me positive things.” Strahinja Pavlovic added: “Ibra played a fundamental role for me. The more I spoke to him, the more I was convinced to accept.”
Zlatan said on his return to the club: “My love for the Rossoneri will never end and the opportunity to be part of their future in a meaningful way is something I could only have dreamed of. I am grateful to Gerry Cardinale (L) for making this opportunity available to me.
“This is not a decision I take lightly. I have thought long and hard about the first steps in my post-football career, and I couldn’t be more excited to begin this journey as a member of RedBird and AC Milan. For me and my family, this truly is a homecoming.”
In short, Ibra is a point of reference for many and has already intervened to send a signal to the team by speaking to them in the dressing room after the defeat against Parma. Yet, even Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no strange to bad starts.
When he started playing football in Sweden, the parents of the other children wrote a petition to kick him out of the team. His first date with a girl was – as he admitted – a disaster. Starting with two points in three games won’t scare him, but it’s up to him to take control of the situation.
It’s so funny. The same people who wanted to give Pioli no credit for turning the team around and winning a Scudetto by saying Ibra was the one that turned the team around and led them, now want to trash Ibra because he works for management. Now all of a sudden Ibra is the problem. OK. Sure.
“Yes man” “Big nose” “Gerry ass licker” etc this is how they talk about a former legend…. all because he works for RB 😵💫
But it is a good reason.
Ibrahimovic was the one defending all the terrible decisions redbird made which is what led to this terrible start to the season. So rightful he is having all the hate pointed towards him.
He should have picked his words carefully and acted strategically and maybe he wouldn’t have been put on the hot seat.
But all and all he deserves every bad thing said towards him
That’s an incredibly short-sighted take. Gotta be able to see past your nose.
Ibra is a cog in the machine. Hard to tell who is in charge of which decisions. For that matter, all need to be praised/criticized as a unit for the decisions taken.
there is nothing short sighted about what iv said.
ibrahimvoic has agreed to become the spoks person for milan and any critisism towards him is a direct result of the things hes said publicly.
dont you think we already know that ibrahimovic is part of a team. not even the most basic fan thinks ibra is the one running the entire operation on his own.
ibrahimovic is and will continue to be rightly critisced for HIS ROLE in what has become of a scudetto winning team.
What exactly are the terrible decisions? So far in their first season they took the team from a 4th place finish to a second place finish.
Is signing Pavlovic a bad decision? What about Fofana? Is Morata a bad signing? And Abraham? You sure you want to make this claim 3 games into the season with a new coach that hasn’t even had his full starting squad together yet? You might look pretty foolish in a month or 2.
The question is, can we afford to wait a month or two until Fonseca gets his s]-[it together? Is Milan prepared to give him all the time he needs?
@ACM1899 I think they have to. The Euros really made this a difficult transition. The team actually looked really good in the preseason friendlies. I know they don’t count for much but you could see they looked more comfortable on the ball and passing out of the back than they did under Pioli. He had time to work with those players. Problem is a lot of our starters were not there, so when they come back it’s like trying to start all over again and they need time to learn his tactics and instructions. With that and the late signings, you have to give him time to work with the full team before you make a real judgement on him.
“Ibra’s a Milan legend I used to love but now he’s working for RedBird so I hate him”…. Okay dude, you do you 😂
“Ibrahimovic was the one defending all the terrible decisions redbird made which is what led to this terrible start to the season. So rightful he is having all the hate pointed towards him.
He should have picked his words carefully and acted strategically and maybe he wouldn’t have been put on the hot seat. ”
So… Zlatan should have PUBLICLY criticized his employer? Sure, that sounds a good idea and something people do every day. I mean, it can only do good for everyone, right?
FFS, some people… 😀 😀 😀
You know who’s really a true legend and “fans” here have no problems, badmouth him, bash him, spit on him and insult constantly. Don’t be such a hypocrite.
Ibra was pivotal for winning two of our last Scudettos but in reality he’s a money grabbing mercenary.
This is so dumb it’s not even worth responding to.
You are dumb man. Ibra might have changed teams alot but his love for Milan is undeniable.
Dont talk about stuff you dont know.
Here, right now where he is, does not matter his love. Ibra does not have intelectual capacity for this job. He only think about himself and everything is about self promoting and his own marketing. Forget about him as a player. This is new chapter and I am sure, he can not make any improvement for club.
“Ibra might have changed teams alot but his love for Milan is undeniable”
And I’m the dumb one here.
No it’s because he’s not doing anything that we can see.
When you go on vacation while the transfer window is still open – that shows you don’t give a $h*t about your job or the club. M&M never did that. They were at Milanello night and day.
This act that he puts on isn’t funny any more. Do your job or get the EFF out. This is serious business and if his heart isn’t in it then leave. Nobody cares about his social media posts. Do your job or go hike the Apls. Pick one
No, it is not because he is working for RB, the fans were delighted to see him joining RB as a legend that knows what it takes to win.
But his actions and words keeps disappointing. Let me give you some examples:
1 “We know what we are doing. We have a clear plan and strategy, and we are confident in our decisions”
2-“We have studied how Fonseca prepares matches, how he prepares the players and how he sets up his teams. We wanted to bring something new to San Siro as well. With the players that we have, we want it to click and Fonseca fits the bill, he is the right man”
3- “Gerry wants us to spend more, but I say no. We must only spend what is needed to strengthen the team”
4- Speaking about Emerson Royal: “We’ve been following him for a long time and have brought him in at the right moment. He’s a physical, offensive, and defensive player who plays with great intensity and grit. With Emerson, we become even stronger”
5-He didn’t attend Milan vs Lazio game because he was on a vacation that couldn’t wait till the international break 😏
And the list goes on and on.
He is forcing his former fans to hate him by his own words and actions.
“Hate”… there’s that word again. And Telenovela Ted says this is how fans talk about Maldini….
The only bad decision make by the management and stupid coach was letting Kalulu go and bring in Emerson who seems to me those have any clue in playing football honestly they should have gone for Davis of Lille than bring Tammy
Ibra is not THE problem. Ibra is A problem in the sense that he isn’t a sporting director. In fact on a directorial level there’s not a whole separating him from Paolo. Both have made good decisions and both have made questionable ones.
Ibra IS a little tone deaf but it’s ok as an advisor, not as a Sporting Director. Paolo for example was more in tune with timing and surroundings.
Ibra can be fundamental in coaching this team on a mental and psychological level. His impact was more palpable on a player level. But I will maintain that to improve this team we need an experienced Sporting Director.
Well the one who was an actual sporting director by contract, got us Scudetto working in silence behind the curtain and was pivotal for our players, following them and mentoring them every day in Milanello and on every match. He was always there to protect our players from the leaches that media are.
Ibra is just running his mouth in conferences and interviews saying bunch of made up, cringy semi motivational and narcissistic stuff, laughing to his own statements. And he was never presented as our sporting director, just a face of AC Milan for Cardinale to ride on. Where was he now when our players needed someone to rely on for a talk or to protect them from the media linch? On vacation. In the middle of the season. Good work.
RIght, It’s Ibra’s fault that poor little Theo Hernandez got his feelings hurt for being called out for jogging back on 2 goals conceded. ANd that he and Leao decided to seperate themselves from their coach and teammates during the game. If only ibra was there to coddle them and rub their heads and tell them everything will be alright. Are these professional, adult players getting paid millions or little kids?
It’s not all Ibra’s fault as he’s just another guy in management and might not have any power.
But being on TV, involved in the team and maybe making some decisions opens him up for criticism. Thats natural.
Gerry is the real culprit and some of you mentioned Pavlovic, Tammy and Moratta as his good decisions but don’t forget all the bad ones too.
The firing of M&M, all the plum average players he bought. Firing Pioli for Fonseca that so far has not worked out and maybe won’t either.
There has been more bad decisions than good and now you guys wanna kick out Theo and Leao!! Laughable. They’re the team and without them we would have lost to Lazio.
This team is average and without those 2 it’s going to be below average.
Hate to say it but the club is in the wrong hands and it’s not going to take a few seasons to come to that conclusion, we’re already here.
Well we’re finding out now don’t we? It’s evident there’s something wrong going on in locker room and there’s no leader to try and hold the group together. And yes, that’s what Ibra is here for, to mentor this team and stand by players when sh*t hits the fan. It was all explained about his role. But he went for vacation in the middle of the season. Haven’t seen that before.
You are totally wrong. Teo will never behave like that, if there is Maldini, because Paolo has AUTHORITY!!! Nobody takes Ibra seriously. In a school, when teacher has authority, kids behave nice. Same kids, if teacher has not authority, they behave bad. As simple as that. This management has no Authority and players show that on the field.
“Well the one who was an actual sporting director by contract, got us Scudetto working in silence behind the curtain” And where did we finish the following year, Telenovela Ted?
not as bad as the following year of naples team right?
What’s Napoli got to do with anything? We’re talking about Maldini “turning Milan into scudetto winners” and then barely scraping in the CL.
I thought it was all Leao who got us the scudetto and not Maldini. Some say it was Kessie. I personally think it was Zlatan, Kessie, Leao, Mike, Giroud, Theo, Pioli and many others as if even one of them were missing we wouldn’t have won it.
But sure, let’s agree that it was in fact all Maldini after all. Funny how Maldini couldn’t replicate his awesome performance the following season though. Why is that?
@bb – you must’ve missed all those games when Maldini did in fact come off the bench in that scudetto year 🙂
LOL. I certainly did! My bad. Sorry. 😀
We finished top 4, qualified for CL and got to CL semis. If you play smarta*s at least be consistent and try to be smart in your comments and not just a*s
“If you play smarta*s at least be consistent and try to be smart in your comments and not just a*s”
One word: mirror.
Man you are really dumb 🤣🤭
Ted
It’s obviously not the same Zlatan who came back to help a young team as a football great and one of the last players in activity to win a Scudetto with Milan, saying that the players are like his kids, and the Zlatan arriving in suit as an investment funds advisor, saying “thanks Jerry thanks Redbird” at every occasion or “we think about the third star” because Inter just won its second or “Théo is happy”. Anybody can understand that it’s complete bs. Ibra is not the problem but he tarnished his aura by joining the corporate executives that are the problem. He’s just a mascot and doesn’t seem to have any power as Fonseca was hired without his approval. He’s basically here to call Zirkee or Morata or speak to the media and sometimes show up at Milanello for the photographs (remember when the media were gathered at the entrance and he coincidentally arrived one minute later), that’s it.
And what should be done according to your great football knowledge? Boycott the owners until the club is completely destroyed? I don’t understand what is your problem?
Is it my problem or is it the problem of all Milan fans? Good for you if you’re satisfied with erratic recruiting of players and coach, poor play on the field and drama in the locker room but looking at the reactions here and on social media, you’re a minority.
What if you are proven wrong. This will pass. Arrigo didn’t start well either, and then the score was made. The team must be supported, not broken. And yes, the most important thing for me is what those 70,000 cheering Milan at San Siro think, not what you write from your room. Sprotic greetings.
Hahahah. So by your logic you get served a crap pie at a fast food joint younshould protest but you should just keep going there forever because it was once good. No you’ll not go there again.
We should protest the ownership and maybe not go to the games.
Show them we are the consumers and have the power.
But don’t worry as the season is going down the drain so will tickets sales.
It wasn’t too long ago when you saw a lot of empty seats at San Siro and the club was hurting.
What did you spend on Milan, apart from the time to beat empty straw on this forum?
Love the elaborate scenarios you dream up your head Bart. Always know what everyone is thinking. I’m sure you’re right about all of it.
You do know that the previous owners that Maldini worked for were also Evil American investment fund business men, right? And he even wore suits too, oh my God. But thanks for all the insider information you get from being in all the meetings. If you really believe all these stories you make up I’m your head yo I might want to talk to someone about that. There are some meds that can quiet those voices.
Maldini.
Nuf said.
Ibra is just a jokes in his new role honestly imagine he dnt even attend the game again Lazio and he when to the USA for foolish reasons with no ambition to the team…..
Ibra is a f**** legend okay! The guy struggled out of rosengården played in top clubs his whole career and is where he is now due to hard work! What have you loosers acomplished in life? You can hate all day long with your 9-5 jobs the guy is a selfmade millionaire, now working for one of the greatest clubs in history.
The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on!!
Nobody says Zlatan was a bad player. He was a Milan great, winning two Scudetti and people were crying at his retirement game at San Siro. But so far he’s useless as an executive. Seedorf, Gattuso, Inzaghi are even bigger legends than Zlatan and they were bad coaches for Milan. So it’s funny to brag when you’re the top scorer of the league and win trophies but it’s plain ridiculous right now to brag when it’s such a mess at the club.
Mess? The only mess is in the heads of delusional fans like you and Ted.
Bring back the Chinese as owners and the Mirabelli-Fassone tandem to do the transfers. I can’t understand these people. Since 2012 we are at the bottom, with no prospect of coming back, and then we finally come back, but that’s not good. I think that these people support other clubs and come here to annoy Milan fans.
I hope that is sarcasm as the Chinese ownership and its cronies got us to the brink of bankruptcy and they made more misses than hits compared to investments made over a short span of time.
😀 clearly sarcasm my bad.
This is a message to those who spit on the current owners of Milan. Which is no use to them. Let’s bring the Chinese back to them, so they can be happy.
Yeah got that but I initially read your comment too quickly so missed the last part of your comment so read it as you actually wanted us to invest like the Chinese ownership who almost buried this club.
I’m in between I cant say i support all of their choices since their arrival but I’m nevertheless willing to give them a bit of time to prove themselves.
And that’s red bird and ibrahimovic’s merit?!Aha,ok
We have been at bottom since 2007 except for 2 scudettos.
IMHO, it’s funny how some people here are quick to bash Maldini and his work and saying things like “Maldini was a great player but that doesn’t make him a great director” when he actually helped delivered a Scudetto with a shoestring budget as a relative newbie.
But when the same argument is directed at Zlatan, these same people gets defensive. What has Zlatan done in his managerial role to merit such different treatment? He’s one of my favourite players ever too, but to be having vacation in the middle of a season (and in a mini crisis too) doesn’t look well in my eyes. Had he been around, I sincerely think that Theo and Leao won’t be as daring to be that petulant.
In any case, I hope the management, Fonseca, and the players could turn the ship around SOON. As we’re heading into some rough waters after the break. Forza Milan.
Please rename this website to SempreCrybaby.. it so annoying seeing all this fake fans throwing tantrums and talking nonsense.
This is Milans quality and it has been like this for the last 17 years. What do you think is gonna change? We are NOT a big club anymore and will never be. Times change.. change team if you are not happy but expecting Milan to act like PSG, man city and United at the transfemarket is just delusional.
What a bunch of baloney, gtfo man🤣🤣🤣
The truth hurts little Ted.
What truth?
Truth that we have the worst start since season 1938/39? Or the fact that we have worst statistics for goals conceded in last 17 years although we had banter era in that period? Or that we are without a sporting director? Or that we are financially most stable club and fastest growing football brand globally but cannot offer our stars more than Inter who are supposedly on the verge of bankrupcy for years? Or that we’ve wasted almost 200 millions on new players but we’re still lacking in most crucial areas?
“change team if you are not happy but expecting Milan to act like PSG, man city and United at the transfemarket is just delusional.”
Cause it can be only white or black right? Like we can only have banter era 2.0 or we can spend headlessly like those oil clubs.
You bunch of sissies here can’t take a hard truth but will eat sugarcoated sh*t this owners are feeding you. You think you need to be happy all the time with everything even when sh*t hits the fan, god forbid someone speaks out about the sh*tty situation going on.
There are Milan and football greats speaking, expressing their doubts, majority of fanbase across the world are not satisfied with how the club is run and it’s evident on every platform and on social media. Yet we are delusional and fake fans.
If you like it good for you, I cannot care less about your feelings and comments and opinion. So do the same for us. You don’t like it? Your problem. Cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it. Grow some f*cking balls you bunch of snowflake wussies and accept the fact that we have our own opinions.
Don’t get triggered, man. We’re all here expressing concern one way or the other.
Calma.
Auuuw little Ted making up nonsense again to protect his little feelings.
These fans must need truckloads of Kleenex delivered to their houses every month.
Haha yeah.. especially Ted and Bartholemo the two most delusional cry babys.