TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 41.

    The AC Milan striker made the announcement on the San Siro pitch following his club’s final game of the Serie A season on Sunday.

    “I have many memories and many emotions in here,” the Sweden international said.

    “The first time I arrived here you gave me happiness. The second time, love. I will be a Milan fan for life.

    “The time has come to say goodbye to football, but not to you. See you around, if you’re lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.”

    A clearly emotional Ibrahimovic was serenaded by the Milan fans and then given a guard of honour by his teammates as he left the pitch.

    The former Manchester United striker has spent most of the season on the sidelines due to injury.

    He played just four times for AC Milan and scored once in a 3-1 defeat at Udinese in March, and his departure from the club had already been announced.

    In July last year he renewed his contract for another year, in spite of facing the prospect of a lengthy rehabilitation from knee surgery.

    Shortly after helping AC Milan win the Serie A title he had undergone a planned procedure on his left knee.

    It was to repair damage and instability caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury.

    As expected that meant a lengthy lay-off and Ibrahimovic did not make his first appearance of this season until the end of February.

    Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo and joined Ajax in 2001 after rejecting the overtures of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

    “Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn’t do auditions,” was how Ibrahimovic put it in his own inimitable style.

    The prolific striker also had spells with Juventus and Inter Milan before an unhappy spell at FC Barcelona, where he complained about how he was used by manager Pep Guardiola.

    “When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari,” Ibrahimovic said.

    “If you drive a Ferrari you put premium fuel in the tank, you drive on to the motorway and you floor the accelerator.

    “Guardiola filled up with diesel and went for a spin in the countryside. If that’s what he wanted, he should have bought himself a Fiat from the start.”

    Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan for the first time, initially on loan, in 2010 before moving to Paris St-Germain (PSG), where he scored 113 times in 122 league appearances.

    He also enjoyed spells with Manchester United, with whom he won the Europa League and League Cup, and LA Galaxy before returning to the San Siro.

    Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 122 matches, Ibrahimovic quit the national team after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

  • AC Milan no longer need Ibrahimovic, says club legend

    AC Milan no longer need Ibrahimovic, says club legend

    AC Milan legend, Billy Costacurta believes the team no longer needs Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    However, he says the Swede, 40, should be handed a new one year contract.

    “I think that Milan no longer needs Ibra,” said Costacurta.

    “I’d confirm him for one more season, but Milan no longer depends on him. This has been the real step forward. The team has matured.”

    Milan will meet Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli on Sunday.

    “The title won’t be decided in games between direct opponents. There isn’t a team who can run away on top of the table,” added Costacurta.

    “Spalletti has joined the perfect team to win the title. Those who worked there before him added something. Now it’s up to him. Pioli has created a team out of a group of individualists.

  • What I want before retirement – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    What I want before retirement – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he wants to win a trophy with AC Milan before retiring.

    The 40 year-old striker’s contract expires in June.

    “My future is football, my world is football,” said Ibrahimovic.

    “I am disappointed that I am not able to play at the moment, this really pains me, especially when the team is doing well. I want to be there and help the team, we’ve done great things since I arrived and now we are only missing one element: a trophy.

    “We are fighting to achieve this, I won’t quit until I have won something with this Milan side.”

  • The day I upset Woodward and cost Man Utd £5m – Ibrahimovic

    The day I upset Woodward and cost Man Utd £5m – Ibrahimovic

    AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed how Manchester United chief Ed Woodward accused him of costing the club £5m in promotion earnings.

    The Swedish striker moved to Manchester on a free transfer five years ago from Paris Saint-Germain, with Ibrahimovic announcing his transfer with an Instagram post, saying: “My next destination will be Manchester United”.

    But Ibrahimovic, now at AC Milan revealed that “all hell broke loose” after the announcement and that the Red Devils and his agent Mino Raiola were furious with him.

    He told Sportbladet: “The fact is that I went on Instagram and wrote: “My next club will be Manchester United.” I was so tired of the negotiations. All hell broke loose. Mino wanted to kill me.

    “It was only my fault, Mino Raiola had nothing to do with it. I lost patience, that’s all.

    “I felt like I was standing in quicksand trying to do something to move forward, without thinking about the consequences. If the deal goes awry now, then so be it, we let it go. I’m the one who did it wrong. I apologise once again.”

    Ibrahimovic also revealed what United chief executive Woodward said to him when he found out about the Instagram post.

    “You’ve ruined a five million pound promotional plan,” was Woodward’s response, according to Ibrahimovic.

    And the Swedish international striker added: “They had planned a surprise campaign and a presentation with special effects a la Hollywood. And I ruined everything with an update on social media.”

  • I did something stupid to Chelsea captain – Zlatan

    I did something stupid to Chelsea captain – Zlatan

    AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has no regrets barging into Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

    The 40-year-old sent Azpilicueta flying after slamming his shoulder into the back of the defender in the closing stages of Sweden’s 1-0 defeat against Spain in the World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

    “The other day in the national team, I gave a tackle to [Cesar Azpilicueta]. I did it on purpose,” Ibrahimovic told the Guardian.

    “I’m not ashamed to say it because he did something stupid to my player. Acting big to my player.

    “It was a stupid thing but I would still do it to make him understand: ‘You don’t f***ing do that. You don’t have b***s to do it against me. But I will show you what happens if you do it to me’. That’s why I did it.”

    Typically, Ibrahimovic was not afraid of any retribution coming his way. Asked whether Azpilicueta approached him after the final whistle, he replied: “He will not say it to me but he will say it to my player – who will do nothing because he’s too nice.

    “It was not a good thing by me, but I would still do it. That’s me. I’m not ashamed to say it.”

  • Nice to hear Zlatan Ibrahimovic praise – Giroud

    Nice to hear Zlatan Ibrahimovic praise – Giroud

    Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud appreciates praise from AC Milan centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

    Before Giroud signed new terms with Chelsea on Friday, Ibrahimovic talked up the Frenchman joining him at AC Milan.

    The France striker told RMC: “Ibrahimovic’s words? I really like the character, his character, his way of expressing himself and his outspokenness. Even if sometimes it’s a bit violent.

    “It’s good, I take it as an additional motivation. But today, it is out of the question to talk about my future. It is one option, Milan, among others. Today, there is no question of talking about my future, but it’s always nice to hear Zlatan say that kind of thing.”

  • Serie A: Ibrahimovic ready to sign new AC Milan deal

    Serie A: Ibrahimovic ready to sign new AC Milan deal

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ready to sign a new deal with AC Milan.

    The veteran striker’s current contract expires at the end of this season.

    And TMW says Ibrahimovic has now agreed terms with Milan management about a new deal for next term.

    The Swede will ink a one-year contract.

    And it’s suggested an announcement regarding the agreement will be made this week – possibly as early as today.

  • We considered signing Ibrahimovic – Bayern chief

    We considered signing Ibrahimovic – Bayern chief

    Bayern Munich supremo Uli Hoeness admits they’ve considered signing AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the past.

    The Swede and Milan are set to enter new contract talks, with his current deal expiring June.

    Asked if Bayern would be interested, Hoeness ruled out a move, but revealed they’d considered the centre-forward in the past.

    “He’s a great player,” said Hoeness.

    “But his salary expectations were also out of reach. We were interested once, but didn’t even get to the main course.”

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic recalled to Sweden squad

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic recalled to Sweden squad

    AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been recalled to Sweden’s squad for their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

    Ibrahimovic has not played for his country since announcing his retirement from international football back in 2016, but has been included in Janne Andersson’s latest squad.

    The 39-year-old will join up with Sweden later this month as they begin their road to Qatar 2022, with Andersson delighted to welcome a talismanic figure back into the fold.

  • Maldini will decide if I stay with AC Milan – Ibrahimovic

    Maldini will decide if I stay with AC Milan – Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has declared he’d be willing to stay with AC Milan next season.

    The Swede was asked about his plans in an interview this past week.

    “I don’t know, let’s see. If Paolo [Maldini, director] wants, I am up for it,” he replied.

    “The season is still long, there are many games left. We always play to win, even if they can play once a week.”

    Ibrahimovic also said, “I am Zlatan, I feel the responsibility and I feel like a leader. This team is the only one that made me feel thrilled. I want to teach, I want to be a guide.

    “When I say something, they others are like: ‘Ok, we are doing it.’ Today I wanted to be in Verona, I felt it inside. When I spend a day without them is like staying without my sons.”