Milan, Ibrahimovic in press conference: “Fonseca new coach”

Ibra appears under the white tent set up at Milanello with a dark suit, his hair tied in his usual pigtail and a white handkerchief in his pocket. Before speaking in front of seventy journalists with a microphone, she straightens her jacket and sips some water, complaining about the heat. At first, she seems a little more agitated than usual. He is not the usual Ibra – bold and proud -, but more thoughtful, of someone who has untied his boots and put on his suit. This time he weighs the answers, but at the same time gives news. The first concerns the coach: “The next coach will be Paulo Fonseca. We chose him for his offensive identity. After five years, we wanted to give players something new. We studied how he coaches and how he prepares matches. And we want something different at San Siro too. Fonseca is the right man.”

mentality

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Ibra touched on various topics: the striker, the market, the permanence of Theo, Maignan and Leao, the Under 23 team that is emerging, his path as a super consultant, the relationship with Cardinale. All under the watchful eyes of Moncada and Furlani, sitting in the front row and often mentioned. “After six months, I already have gray hair – she joked at the beginning, before about twenty questions from journalists -, Gerry and I speak the same language and we are two winners. We want to create a similar project. When we talked, I told him I’m the perfect man. They are operational partners of RedBird. My responsibility is Milan. I’m not a one man show. From 2011 to 2023 there was a period in which Milan were not Milan, now they are back at the top and we are aiming for trophies. We have to play every year to win. We make history. Whoever does not have these objectives, then he will not have space. Nobody said we are satisfied, we always want more. We have no limits.”

the market

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Chapter tip. Ibra spoke like this about Joshua Zirkzee: “It will be a market of details, of roles, and one of these is number 9. Zirkzee is strong, he had a great year, then there is a difference between the rumor going around and reality . The Dutch school, which is the one I did, is good, but I don’t like making comparisons. I was Ibra, he is Zirkzee. There’s a list. We don’t just aim for one, we have to understand what is best for the club. If he knows how to play under pressure. There are seventy thousand people at San Siro. There are many people”. The key word is history. “Milan plays for this. In my mentality there is no goal of just getting into the top four. Everything we do is to aim for the top and win trophies. The twentieth scudetto with Inter didn’t make me suffer, I never suffer. If anything, it energizes me and gives me the desire to do even more. A loser looks at other clubs, never at his home. We’re not like that. Always remember that you are talking to a winner. We also want to do well with the Under 23 project, which will be very important. We want to connect young people with the first team.”

camarda and the team b

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A note on Francesco Camarda: “He was more talented than me at his age. He is the future of Milan, but it’s clear that he shouldn’t be responsible for everything. We need to make him grow. He’s hungry and willing to improve. When I talk about him I want talk about ‘step by step’, step by step. His example shows that we need to strengthen the academy even more. Our job will be to bring him to the first team, also because today the gap between Primavera and Serie A is still there too big. Fonseca’s role is important. He gives young people opportunities.” Two more words also on Antonio Conte: “According to our criteria, his name never came up, also because we didn’t want to change. We wanted a coach who was good for the team we have. And on our ‘market’ list there are they are also Italian players. He deserved the national team, for example he has grown a lot. Next year we are playing to win four trophies.

no ego

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Ibra also spoke about the others: “There were several names on the table. We talked, discussed and in the end we chose Fonseca over Lopetegui. Fonseca convinced me because he is ambitious, but we have never talked about Conte. And I say this with all due respect for him obviously. Not what we were looking for, simple as that.” Ibra put her ‘ego’ aside, as reiterated several times: “Moncada always says that I wake up angry and go to sleep the same way. Several former players, when they arrive, always say that they know everything. I do the opposite. I start from scratch and learn. I’m not going to be a coach. I do mine. Until today I never spoke because I had nothing to say. What if I give you my number? I do not think so. I don’t need someone to protect me, I go to the gym every day…” And he laughs.

the future

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Zlatan armored Theo, Maignan and Leao. “Anything can happen, but I can say that they remain. We don’t need to sell, on the contrary, we want to bring in other strong players. A year ago the club bought 12 players and laid an important foundation. I chose not to talk to the agents, I’m always black or white. Instead Moncada and Furlani also have grey. Good for them. I come from a different school, that of Galliani and Raiola, I have less patience than them. Everything we do, however, is invested in the first team. And they are shared choices. Moncada, Furlani and I work together.” The last joke concerns cryptic posts on social media: “Every now and then I send out indirect messages, but you will have to do like Inspector Clouseau and understand what I mean. I play every now and then too, but compared to you I reach a hundred million people…”. The last sentence is said in English: “As long as I am here I can say that ‘the future is bright’. I don’t know how to say it in Italian, but you understand what I mean.” The future is bright. Words from Zlatan. And the curtain comes down.