Mansion Sports – The former Sweden national team striker explained the plans of AC Milan owner RedBird regarding the future of the Rossoneri club in an interview with CBS Golazo.

AC Milan’s victory in the derby against Inter once again revived enthusiasm among the club’s supporters.

At present, Milan are beginning to regain confidence to compete in the race for the Serie A title. Senior advisor from the RedBird investment fund, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, gave an interview to CBS Golazo, a United States platform that broadcasts the Serie A competition, where he discussed various plans that are being prepared by Gerry Cardinale for the future of the club.

In the interview, the former striker spoke about various topics, ranging from jokes about the rivalry with Inter, stories behind the early journey of his career in the Netherlands, to his views regarding Massimiliano Allegri, the Milan Futuro project, and the great ambitions that must be possessed by a club such as AC Milan.

“The Fashionable Side of the City of Milan”

Ibrahimovic opened the conversation with a relaxed tone regarding the rivalry between the two major clubs in the city of Milan. He said that someone must be on the right side in that city.

According to him, there are two sides in Milan, namely the blue side and the red side. He added jokingly that Milan represents the more stylish and fashionable side, while welcoming everyone to Milanello.

Inspired by Marco van Basten

When asked about the figure who inspired him, Ibrahimovic mentioned the name Marco van Basten.

He explained that there was something interesting when he joined Ajax, because many people immediately compared him with the Dutch legend, so the pressure had already appeared from the beginning.

He admitted that at that time he was not fully prepared to face those comparisons because Van Basten is an icon and a great legend in the history of the club. Van Basten was also part of the famous Dutch trio together with Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit.

Ibrahimovic added that those comparisons emerged because he played as a striker and possessed a playing style that was considered similar.

Therefore, Van Basten became one of the important references for him when thinking about AC Milan.

He also mentioned that although Van Basten’s career did not last very long, the achievements obtained by that player will always be remembered in the history of football.

The Milan Futuro Project for Youth Player Development

Ibrahimovic also discussed the Milan Futuro project which focuses on the development of young players. He explained that in the culture of Italian football, many parties are very oriented toward match results. Young players as well as coaches often possess a strong desire to win.

However, he explained that if the main objective is only victory, then coaches tend to play players who are already ready, so opportunities for young players who possess potential could decrease and even hinder their development.

According to Ibrahimovic, that approach is now beginning to change at AC Milan. The club wants to provide sufficient playing time for young players, because match experience is very important for their development.

He explained that if a young player does not play in the Milan Futuro team, then he will play in the Primavera team.

If a player begins in Milan Futuro but the rhythm of the matches is considered too high, then he can be temporarily moved to Primavera to develop before returning to the previous level.

Ibrahimovic described the system as a ladder that can be climbed and descended by players with the main objective of development. In this way, when a player finally reaches the first team, it happens because of the achievements and development that they have attained.

Giving Milan Full of Achievements to the Supporters

Ibrahimovic also emphasized that AC Milan is a club with a very great history of achievements.

He mentioned that the club has won seven Champions League titles, nineteen league titles, as well as various Ballon d’Or awards won by its players, in addition to various other international trophies.

According to him, Milan supporters have become accustomed to those standards of achievement. If the club is not able to provide such accomplishments, then the club is not providing something that reflects the true identity of AC Milan.

Therefore, according to him, the club must continue striving to deliver success to its supporters.

Allegri Wants a Team with Stronger Character

Ibrahimovic also spoke about the figure of coach Massimiliano Allegri, who once coached him when he was still an active player.

He stated that Allegri is a coach who is very good at managing players and capable of organizing a team very well.

He also reminded that Allegri once won trophies with AC Milan and had already shown his quality even when he was still coaching him.

Ibrahimovic explained that Allegri possesses a strong character, especially because at that time he had to handle players with strong personalities such as Clarence Seedorf and Antonio Cassano.

According to Ibrahimovic, players at that time did not hesitate to express their opinions directly.

However, Allegri still had to consider the interests of the team as a whole, not only individuals.

He assessed that the coach was able to carry out that task very well and is now applying the same approach to the current team.

He also added that the character of players in the past was different from players today.

According to him, players today may possess slightly weaker character, so Allegri hopes that they can demonstrate stronger character.

Modric and Rabiot Considered to Be at a Different Level

Ibrahimovic also mentioned that working with Allegri is not a difficult matter because the coach possesses long experience and has handled many major clubs. He considers Allegri to be a winner who fully understands what it means to be part of AC Milan.

According to him, Allegri’s task now is to make the players understand what it means to play for a club as great as Milan.

However, he added that this does not need to be explained to Luka Modric because that player already possesses very high experience and understanding.

In addition to Modric, Ibrahimovic also considers Adrien Rabiot as a player who is at a different level.

He mentioned that within the team there are important players such as Mike Maignan, Nkunku who joined this season, as well as Rabiot.

He also recalled that he once played together with some of those players when they were around 17 years old at Paris Saint-Germain, and now they have met again as part of the AC Milan squad.