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It seemed more or less given for several months.
It is true that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his Milan had started to lift on the Serie A table, but there seemed no future in the red and black jersey.
During the long hiatus that followed the crown pandemic, Zlatan had a big fight with Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis in a training session after he asked players to cut their salaries. In addition, Zlatan was not happy that Zvonimir Boban, who was sports director together with Paolo Maldini, had been fired in March.
Journalist Vito Angelè was the first to report on the fight in training between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ivan Gazidis and said it was obvious that the Swede would leave Milan when his contract expired during the summer.
– The consequence will be that Ibrahimovic leaves Milan if nothing unforeseen happens, said Angelè.
That’s why Zlatan stayed in Milan
For a time, it seemed more likely that Zlatan would play for Hammarby or retire in the fall. In May, La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that there was a 60% chance that he would play at Hammarby this fall if he kept playing. At the same time, they gave Milan 20% and other clubs 20%.
After that, Serie A started and while Zlatan and Milan celebrated big wins, conditions changed. Milan offered coach Stefano Pioli a new contract, thus canceling plans to hire German Ralf Rangnick as coach.
Rangnick was supposed to lead a youth revolution in Milan, but with the departure of Stefano Pioli, the chances for a 39-year-old Swede at the club improved. The Swede scored ten goals and five assists in his eighteen Serie A games during the season, but he didn’t seem willing to stay in Milan until Pioli stayed too.
– I don’t know if the fans have seen me live for the last time. That may very well be the case. Why? Read between the lines … Zlatan said after Milan’s win against Juventus in early July.
“Then Zlatan’s mood changed”
Finally, Zlatan’s contract was extended and Matteo Calcagni, a MilanNews reporter, believes that Zlatan’s power at the club is so great that he was behind the decision not to hire Ralf Rangnick.
– I think so. Milan have understood how important Ibrahimovic was in 2020, how much the squad developed with him. In addition, the team won almost every game after the crown break. Letting Pioli, Maldini and Ibrahimovic disappear to carry out a youth revolution would have been a mistake, Calcagni tells SportExpressen.
When it became clear that Stefano Pioli would be staying in Milan, Calcagni seemed to see Zlatan’s mood change.
– The Pioli extension changed everything. After the match against Sassuolo, when it was revealed that Pioli had extended his contract, Zlatan’s mood changed completely. He was very happy, because he knew he could stay.
He believes the great power struggle in Milan is over now that Paolo Maldini, who was also rumored to be fired, will continue as sporting director.
– When they left the Rangnick project, I think the big fight was over. But it is normal that some dust remains. Maldini is sad because (Zvonomir) Boban is not staying at the club.
Milan start Serie A against Bologna
On Thursday, Milan played their first match in the Europa League qualifying round.
Then it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who showed the way by giving the team the lead with a quick finish in the 23rd minute when they defeated Irish Shamrock Rovers 2-0.
At the premiere of Serie A, Bologna is now waiting at home for Milan on Monday night. The team is reinforced by both the “new Pirlo” Sandro Tonali and the attacking midfielder Brahim Díaz.
Matteo Calcagni believes that Milan will enter the game with roughly the same team as against Shamrock Rovers and that the team can fight for a place in the Champions League next season with their new acquisitions.
– It will not be easy but the difference with previous years is that the feeling is positive. Ibrahimovic is an important factor even at the age of 39 and many players have developed with him.
