Zlatan, in the third person: “Ibra is not a Europa League player”

His enormous talent and an indomitable character make Zlatan Ibrahimovic a special type. A somewhat uncontrolled ego for most mortals but not for a Zlatan who, in Sportweek and in the third person, is dispatched against Ralf Ragnick and indirectly, against Ivan Gazidis, whose war has ended Boban and is close to driving Maldini away from the sports management of San Siro, both being the great supporters of the Swedish return.

“Ibra plays to win something or stays at home. I am playing for free, just out of passion”, This is how Zlatan Ibrahimovic begins in a preview offered by the Gazzetta of the interview that will be published this Sunday in Sportweek.

With multiple references to himself in the third person, the Swede qualifies himself and also his team, which he wants to put back on top. “Ibra is not a Europa League player and Milan is not a Europa League club. I said that this Milan is not my great Milan, it is true. But we have to do everything we can in this situation too. Until the end. Ibra is here, Ibra will take care of it. I have to be there or the tifosi will leave, “he explained.

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In this resurgence project, Zlatan wants to help but has collided with Ivan Gazidis, the new CEO who has come from Arsenal and is making him rethink his future. Malmoe's acknowledged having come face to face with him. “I need to have explanations about the future, mine and Milan. We will see what happens with the club. If that is the situation, it is difficult to see me in Milan next year, I am honest. I don't know if there is another club after Milan, I never close the doors. But I only go to a place where I have a responsibility, not to a place where words are worthless. I still have too much passion for what I do “, he claimed.

In that rossonero future appears Ralf Rangnick, sports director of both European Red Bull franchises (Salzburg and Leizpig), to occupy the bench, something that Ibrahimovic seems unaware or at least, he does not care too much. “Who is Rangnick? I don't know who Rangnick is,” he added.

His withdrawal, although close, he believes can still wait. “They told me that retiring in the United States was too easy and I went back to Milan. Then, the covid stopped everything and I thought, there is something that does not want me to withdraw, “he says.