Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second spell at AC Milan is seemingly coming to an end, with the striker expected to get his farewell against Hellas Verona on Sunday. Indeed, it will be a very special and emotional moment.
Ibrahimovic joined Milan for the second time in January of 2020 and has since been a very important player for the Rossoneri. And it’s not an understatement to say that he’s been more important off the pitch than on it.
When the Swede arrived, for the second time that is, Milan were in a very tough moment. They had just lost 5-0 to Atalanta and had thus reached rock bottom. Ibrahimovic was brought in and, as they say, the rest is history.
He was instrumental in the Scudetto season and although he hasn’t played much this term, he’s still and will always be regarded as a legend. To most Milan fans he means even more than that, which is why Sunday will be a special evening, should it be Ibrahimovic’s last presence at San Siro as an AC Milan player.
He’s still recovering from an injury and it’s unlikely that we will see him on the pitch, but there will certainly be some sort of farewell organised. In the meantime, let’s take a look at his achievements with the club, divided into the two different spells.
2010-2012
➤ 85 games
➤ 56 goals (Capocannoniere in 11/12 with 28 goals)
➤ 24 assists
➤ 2 honours (Serie A 10/11 and Supercoppa Italiana 11/12)
2020-2023
➤ 78 games
➤ 37 goals
➤ 11 assists
➤ 1 Honour (Serie A 21/22)
He should never have left the first time. Ibra clearly has a special relationship with Milan. I bet we could have gotten by with only selling Thiago Silva that summer they both left. CBs are more easily replaceable than world class strikers. We might have avoided the worst of the banter era, at least qualifying for the Uefa Cup/Europa League in those years.
Milan should be ashamed if they let him leave. Give him another year including some coaching duties. His jersey sales already pay for his contract…
His presence is too important to let him leave without trying very hard.