In the past few months, less has been seen and heard from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A report has claimed it is a deliberate step back.
As Calciomercato.com recall, Ibrahimović serves as Senior Advisor to RedBird Capital and Operating Partner at Milan, with a cross-functional role that combines sporting and commercial duties, without being nailed down to any one area.
He collaborates closely with the management (Geoffrey Moncada, Giorgio Furlani and Igli Tare) as well as the owner Gerry Cardinale. He shuttles between Casa Milan, Milanello and San Siro ,and is involved in strategic projects, including those related to the new stadium and the NBA Europe franchise.
The arrival of Tare and Massimiliano Allegri filled gaps that had been lacking in recent years. There was a period when Zlatan was effectively the club’s frontman, an overexposure that, among other things, didn’t resonate with the owners.
A change in role
In RedBird’s mind, his role wasn’t meant to and shouldn’t be the main media focal point. Ibrahimović has ‘radically changed’ his role at Milan over the last six or seven months as a result. In fact, Furlani himself, when presenting the new season’s plans last summer, spoke about the Swede.
“There has been confusion about his role. He has been and remains a very important person in the AC Milan project,” he said.
“Zlatan’s role is at the ownership level. His input is on the sporting, commercial, institutional, and representative sides. He is someone who made us win as a player. He has a wealth of skills and a very broad knowledge of the world of football.”
Ibrahimovic is a regular presence at San Siro but quite sporadically at Milanello. Zlatan has been present at all the most important events for the Rossoneri as a club, but with a different, more rational approach.
Old grudges have been left behind: Zlatan and Allegri are working for Milan without overstepping certain boundaries. The former striker knows the Livorno-born coach doesn’t want interference in the management of the team and has remained more on the fringes of the dressing room.
Allegri too is aware that his former pupil is an institutional presence as Cardinale’s right-hand man. The problem is that Ibrahimovic, once a central figure in the Rossoneri organisation, now appears ‘marginalised’ as per the report.
There have been no interviews or TV appearances in recent months, barring the derby. Zlatan will attend the general meeting in June, where all the data and scenarios will be analysed, and he can have a ‘significant influence’ on the evaluation of the coaching staff.
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This is insanely misleading lol.
“Marginalized” makes it sound like he was moved to janitorial work.
Idk, man, Ibra is a servant of the club lol, and he put his neck and reputation on the line when the club made wrong decisions.
I respect it and what he’s trying to do. He’s clearly involved in different aspects of the club probably trying to grow on the business side.
ON je jako teška osoba za suradnju !! Narcisoidan i samoljubljiv ! misli da je Bog a ustvari tanke pameti i kratkog fitilja !!!
They should release him
Still nobody knows what Zlatan’s purpose or function is….
Did you read the article? It pretty clearly states that he is an advisor to the ownership and the physical presence of the ownership at Milano. As flo stated article is extremely misleading. Marginalized is a terrible and inaccurate portrayal of Ibra stepping back and acting in a more removed role in accordance with his job. It actually shows professionalism and respect for the club…
I had to re read your comment to work out if you were being sarcastic.
I think not???
To me it doesn’t make things much clearer. An “Adviser” is corporate speak that can mean practically anything. Sounds like his role is to be Gerry’s spy within his own organisation. Why should that be necessary?
Possibly interfering in the work of people who actually work for the club.