Ibrahimovic causing mayhem at Milan as he makes 'BOSS' demand

Robin Bairner

19 Sep 2024 03:40 CDT
3 min read

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milan, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s talent for controversy continues in his role as an executive at AC Milan, with the relationship between the Swede and head coach Paulo Fonseca already said to be at rock bottom.

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Fonseca arrived in the summer from Ligue 1 side Lille but has made an inauspicious start to life at San Siro.

Milan have won only one of their first five matches of the season, with the Rossoneri’s latest setback arriving on Tuesday as they were defeated 3-1 by Liverpool in the Champions League group stage.

Gazzetta dello Sport indicates that Ibrahimovic has angered Fonseca with his attitude towards the coach, effectively taking charge of the running of the squad. It is claimed the relationship is delicate to such a point that it is hitting rock bottom, with the Portuguese already under pressure.

Ibrahimovic and Fonseca’s relationship falling apart

There are three episodes in particular that have seen the relationship between the pair fracture.

Firstly, Ibrahimovic spoke to the squad without the presence of the head coach on the eve of the opening matchday of the Serie A season, which ended in a 2-2 draw with Torino.

Hours later, Fonseca declared that the “transfer market is close for me” only for Ibrahimovic to issue a response putting the 51-year-old in his place.

© IMAGO - Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to be known as 'the boss'

The Swede said: “The coach is the coach, the club does the rest. We don't need any more signings. With these four new ones, we have doubled our alternatives and then there is Milan Futuro. These four signings were already objectives even before choosing the coach. The market closes when I say it closes.”

Fonseca was angered by this statement and a few days later Tammy Abraham joined the club while Axel Saelemaekers departed.

In the latest act, Ibrahimovic returned after two weeks away from the squad to meet with them again without Fonseca’s presence. He is said to have declared himself to be “the boss”.

With Roma head coach Daniele De Rossi already sacked this season and now Fonseca under clear pressure, the Serie A managerial merry-go-round is already well underway.