Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could not help tears when asked on Monday about his family's reaction at his first press conference when he returned with the Swedish national team four years later.
“This is not a good question. He was with Vincent (one of his sons) and he started crying when I left him. But everything is fine … ”, said in Stockholm“ Ibra ”, who had to take a brief pause and wipe her tears.
The 39-year-old Swedish star is the big news on the list to face the first two qualifying games for Qatar 2022 against Georgia and Kosovo and the friendly against Estonia.
“Ibra” retired from the Swedish national team after Euro 2016, but hinted last fall that he wanted to return and met with the Swedish coach, Jan “Janne” Andersson, whom he had criticized several times in the past for not including players of foreign origin.
“When I asked, they were all positive. When it comes to playing for your country, nobody is opposed. It's just about giving up or not, “said the forward about the reaction of his closest people to a possible return to Sweden.
As he had done a few days ago in an interview broadcast by the Swedish Federation, Ibrahimovic reiterated that he was returning for his performance at Milan, not for his name.
“I'm here because I deserve it, what I did before does not matter at all,” said the Swedish star, who was proud and assured that he was there to “help” and that he did not “demand” anything.
The top scorer in the history of the Swedish team, with 62 goals in 116 games, confessed that if he had said “no” to come back, he would have regretted it within a year, and stressed that the important thing is “to continue doing what you love for as long as you can ”.
Sweden, rival of Spain in the next European Championship, is also framed with Luis Enrique's team in the same qualifying group for the World Cup.