Ibrahimovic 'one step away' from returning to football
Tom Weber
- 9 Nov 2023 05:12 CST
- 3 min read
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 'one step away' from returning to AC Milan, according to Italian media.
The legendary Swede retired from football in the summer, but reports about a potential involvement at former club Milan have scarcely gone away. The Rossoneri great has been in talks with owner Gerry Cardinale for several weeks and it now appears that an agreement has been reached.
Calciomercato reports that the 42-year-old is set to take up a special role that hasn't hitherto existed at the club. The role will see Ibrahimovic act as a kind of special counsel, as a link between the dressing room and the club management.
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The decision to appoint the former Man Utd man is being finalised after a meeting between Ibrahimovic and Cardinale on Tuesday. The former striker is said to be impressed by the vision of the RedBird chief and keen on the job.
What will Ibrahimovic do?
The above-mentioned report states that Ibra will not formally be part of Stefano Pioli's management team or that he will be a replacement for technical director Paolo Maldini, who left the club in June. Instead, he will be an external consultant.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, he will be in regular contact with the squad, Pioli and the club management "in the common hope that continuous discussions can lead to new ideas and raise the level of competitiveness of the entire organisation."
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The decision to bring Ibrahimovic back was first floated in a bid to resolve the mini-crisis Milan have been enduring this season. The Rossoneri had put on several less-than-impressive showings prior to their brilliant win over PSG in the Champions League, failing to triumph in their four previous games.
Ibrahimovic had already been spotted at the club's Milanello training ground after the Rossoneri were demolished 5-1 by hated rivals Inter back in September.
