Correspondent in Rome
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“If I had been here since the start of the season, we would have won the scudetto!” That’s how euphoric Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 38, was after the overwhelming victory (4-2) of Milan at San Siro against Juventus. He SwedishBecause of his charisma, he was the star of the match and decisive in the comeback against Vecchia Signora, scoring the first goal for his penalty team and allowing Cristiano Ronaldo (three years younger than Zlatan) to laugh in the face. It was a penalty with its little story that reflects the rivalry between the Swedish and Portuguese, to which he always refers with antipathy (“The real Ronaldo is the Brazilian”, he always says). Before the launch, CR7 approached his goalkeeper, Pole Szczesny, to comment: “You know this one, don’t you? You know how it pulls. With his goal, fooling the goalkeeper, the Swede’s satisfaction was double and he allowed himself to give a somewhat malicious and mocking smile to his rival, saying: “Do you know me …?”
Then, already in the second half, an impressive 30 minutes of Milan and catastrophic for Juve that in just five minutes they scored three goals. The poker suffered by the team coached by Maurizio Sarri will be remembered for a long time. Juventus, almost always without rivals in Italy, conceding four goals in one match has not been seen since June 3, 2017, in the Cardiff Champions League final, when Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo 4-1 prevailed. All eyes on the Milan-Juve match were focused on Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo. The clear winner of that duel was Zlatan. In addition to the penalty, he gave Kessié an assist, and when he was substituted when the result was 2-2, he “pushed” off the bench to poker. When they asked him at the end of the game if, in view of the supports and “assists” he gives from the bench, a future coach awaits him, he replied with a half smile: “No, no, I am president, player and coach, but they pay me only as a player ».
The tifosi of Milan they are convinced, as they reflect on social networks, that, in fact, they could have been champions with Ibrahimovic, taking into account the contribution made so far by the Swedish player: He has played 13 matches; of them, two from the Italia Cup; He scored six goals and gave three assists, substantially improving the team’s results: With him in the lineup, Milan won six games, drew three and lost two.
After two years in U.S, the Swedish player returned to Milan at the end of the first round, coming from the Los Angeles Galaxy, with a six-month contract, signed on January 2, with the option of one more season, earning one million euros per month. His presence in Milan has served as a boost for the team. There is already talk of renewal. Being one of the most prolific markers in football history, having passed through Malmoe, where Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United and the Los Angeles Galaxy debuted, Ibrahimovic is left to love unconfirmed nor deny its continuity in Milan.
Arrogant character
I’m old, it’s not a secret, but age is just a number. Training well, handling the rhythms and today (against Juve) I played better than against him Lazio. I’m fine and I try to help the team in every way! For the moment, the tifosi milanistas are clamoring for their renewal. He does not run or score goals as in the past, but he does not lack technical qualities to continue being a positive player for him. Milan, despite his arrogant character. This was highlighted, after the match, by former Juventus player Federico Balzaretti, today a television commentator: «His technical qualities are the same as always; He has also added in-game continuity by taking better tactical readings, as demonstrated by his highly intelligent assistance in Kessié. Ibrahimovic still fills the field, in his head is the desire to continue, he knows that he cannot have the brilliance of twenty years ago, but he knows that he can be decisive ». Of course, Tuesday was a “total” Ibrahimovic, as defined by Balzaretti, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in the shade for one night.
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