What Ibrahimovic does at Milan: it has no impact on the transfer market and the coach

Journalist

June 4 – 07:04 – MILAN

The next official event in which Zlatan’s presence is guaranteed is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Stockholm: appointment at 6pm at the Friends Arena, kick-off of the friendly match against Serbia, a tribute match to Ibra’s Swedish career. Since the announcement of the withdrawal last May, there had been no other occasion for celebration until today. Ibra’s latest Instagram posts are a close-up with a caption that is difficult to interpret and a short video holding a koala, the only social trace of his trip with the team to Australia. There is very little about Ibrahimovic as the Rossoneri manager. If you insist on social channels, the last trace is from May 26th, Zlatan sitting on one of the San Siro benches and a message coded “4-3-3”. The fans still waiting to know the name of the new coach didn’t take it very well: instead of welcoming the next coach and announcing the next programs, Ibra plays guessing games. For the first time as a Milan player, Zlatan was criticized by his own fans. The same ones who expected to find him on the front line, operating on the market and dictating the lines of the new course.

Milan market

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In reality, Zlatan remained in the shadows, having little involvement in the choices. Starting with that of the coach: Lopetegui had been contacted when Zlatan had just been appointed by Cardinale, without him being able to express his opinion. Even Fonseca doesn’t have Ibra’s stamp: he appreciates him for the skills that everyone recognizes in him (good play, ability to enhance young people, knowing how to work in a team) but it wasn’t him who proposed his candidacy. Among the options on the table, only Van Bommel, a former Rossoneri teammate, had his sponsor. The same is true on the player market: Zlatan does not sit at the negotiating table, the direct line with the agents lies with the CEO. Furlani and director Moncada. The fans are asking him for a signal, especially on the possible deal of the attack: many of the 9 followed by the club have grown up in the myth of him. And no one can suggest the name of his possible heir better than Zlatan.

Ibra waiting

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The only field in which Zlatan has had an impact so far is that of the Under 23s: he has entrusted the management of the sector to Jovan Kirovski, a manager known during his American experience and who arrived directly from Los Angeles. He is making his debut in Italian football: Ibra gave him Bonera as coach, Kirovski will have to take care of the composition of the squad. As long as the project is successful: in order to play in Serie C, one of the participating clubs must be unable to register for the championship. The deadlines for submitting the documentation are about to expire: Milan is waiting. There is little or nothing about everything else about Zlatan. He participated with the first team in the trip to Australia, a commercial rather than technical event and we know Zlatan’s appeal is global.

Zlatan authority

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On June 11th, Ibra will be six months with the Rossoneri: he has almost always been present at the stadium, sitting in the row reserved for club managers, but without ever speaking in public. Cardinale, owner of the club, had legitimized him from the stage of the Business of Football Summit in London: “He has the authority to be my voice with everyone at Milan. I am sure that Zlatan will be revolutionary: he allows me to live in the USA but to being in Milan I relied on him to gather opinions, perspectives and advice.” When Zlatan’s third life in the club was announced (two different experiences as a player, his debut as a manager) he was defined as “Senior Advisor of the Ownership and Senior Management of AC Milan”. His tasks had not been specified, precisely because he would have had to intervene in every area. Feet and head made the difference on the pitch, as a manager the hand was not seen. Will he be satisfied? Knowing him, no.