AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has tipped striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to succeed upon his return to the club.
The Rossoneri confirmed the signing of the Swede on December 27 via a statement on their official website, with Ibrahimovic having penned a six-month deal with the possibility of extending that for an extra 12 months.
Sportmediaset on Italia Uno (via MilanNews.it) believe that the Swede will arrive on January 2nd to support the medical visits and to sign his contract with the Rossoneri.
The club also confirmed that Ibrahimovic will be presented to the press on Friday morning at 10:00am in the Casa Milan conference room.
Pioli spoke to the microphones of il Corriere della Sera about the return of one of Milan’s most influential former players, and his words were transcribed by MilanNews.it.
“Ibra is a warrior, a leader, a charismatic player who has a great sense of responsibility and a great desire to win,” he said.
“It will stimulate the whole team, its contribution will be fundamental. Being the youngest team in the league we have found some limitations. Ibra is the type of player, person and leader who can help us to fix that. I thank the club. Gazidis, Maldini, Boban and Massara have worked much during the holidays.
“He knows how to do everything. He knows how to set his team-mates up for goals, he knows how to occupy the area well, he will be the point of reference of our offensive phase.
“I spoke to him on the phone, he is very charged, he can’t wait to train with us, and I can’t either. I welcomed him, he inquired about the team’s conditions, about the next training sessions on the next situations to face. He said to me: mister, don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Milan will be looking to bounce back after being demolished 5-0 by Lombardy neighbours Atalanta on Sunday to ensure that the team would not have a happy Christmas.
“How do we overcome the defeat? With the desire for redemption, because we finished 2019 in the worst possible way. Ibra gives us one more reason to be positive. We have to become more concrete.
“The company asked me to do everything possible to achieve the highest possible goals. They did not necessarily ask me for the Champions League, but to exploit the players and get them willing, aware of having a team with quality.”
