In an exclusive interview given to Il Corriere dello Sport, AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis has spoken about club’s veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Here are his words:
“It was surprising to meet him. He’s extraordinarily divisive: either you love him or you hate him. I think he invests in this to motivate himself. He is an intelligent man and also has a soft side, which he expresses in the relationship with the team. It is not enough to roar like a lion on the field to earn the respect of your teammates. Moments – so to speak – of tenderness are very useful. A part of him is destined for the public image. However, the motivational component prevails: Ibra is never satisfied, it is always over the top, the lion feels it on him. And of course he doesn’t think he is God. The desire to be something more, and different, is in his nature. The group is strongly stimulated by his presence. And it is a remarkable fact that, at 39, Ibra still manages to compete at these levels and to be so determined to win, it is exceptional.”
