AC Milan's Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has spoken to the microphones of La Gazzetta dello Sport amid rumours of retirement surrounding him. Here are his statements:
On being a workaholic:
"I am a workaholic, crazy about work. The more I work, the more I train, the more alive and young I feel. Work pays off. Some call it sacrifice, for me, it's an opportunity. Training prolongs life."
On his mentality, which has become an inspiration for many, he said:
"You become an example through who you are, through what you do. I did everything to get here, starting from scratch. With discipline and respect. If I could make it, others can too. If I can teach this to the younger generations, I am happy. That's why I try to always be myself and give back as much as possible."
Ibrahimovic on promoting sports as a means of inclusion for underprivileged youth in the outskirts of the world:
"If I can help young people who have fewer opportunities, I do it with my heart, not with my brain."
On how sports helped him in his adolescence:
"Sports helped me a lot... It gave me confidence. An identity. I grew up in Rosengård, a suburb of Malmö. When I started playing, I didn't feel welcome. They were Swedes, blond, while I was the son of immigrants with an ugly nose, black hair, crooked teeth... Through sports, I felt like somebody. It's important for everyone to find a place where they feel important, for themselves."
On what he tells bullies:
"They are weak people; I prefer to focus on those who suffer from bullying and tell them that help is available. That others have been through it and found strength, seen the light. If I can make one of those kids feel like me, I have helped a bit."
On who taught him the most between his parents, Ibrahimovic said:
"My parents were separated: I lived with my dad and went to my mom's to eat because my dad worked and didn't have time. It was like when you run out of gas and go refill... I had my places where I recharged, but in reality, I did things on my own. And when I asked for help, people told me they hadn't been in my situation. I understood that I had to find my own way, make mistakes, correct myself, and surpass myself. It's still the same today."
On who taught him the most in football:
"Every coach I've had taught me something. Even Pep Guardiola? Yes, in one way or another. Because it's not always glamorous, positive, wow. You have to go through the dark to grow. If you're not used to it, when it comes, you get confused. I've experienced the dark and the light to become who I am and where I am. That's why I thank all the coaches. And Mino Raiola: he has always been there in football and beyond. A role model. I went to him to vent, to get answers. We argued, hugged each other, everything happened. And my family. Then there's Zlatan, according to Ibrahimovic, third-person Ibra. It's no secret: Ibra is the first, second, and third person."
On the effort in training that leads to results:
"Always, I always have to deliver results. This year we played for 4 trophies, zero trophies in the end. We won't talk about failure, but it didn't go as I wanted. You work for 11 months to achieve something, if it doesn't happen, you still learn, grow, but in the end, you want a reward: the prize is the trophy, not the salary."
On his physical condition:
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I've worked hard, pushed hard, not only this year but also last year. But when I was exhausted, the team needed me. And when you've done something your whole life, when you know what you have to do but can't do it, then... you keep going because you can't find peace. I can't find balance. When everything comes, bam, suddenly nothing comes. This thought keeps going through my head. My mind is too strong, I feel like Superman every time I come back, but I need balance. I pushed so hard, and so far, I haven't gotten anything back. Because if you get a little something back, you give even more. Otherwise, you just keep giving and giving, and in the end, you're empty", said Ibrahimovic.
On the possibility of leaving and starting a new life:
"No, no, I'm not someone who gives up. But there must also be joy in what you do; I can't have no peace in what I know how to do best, play football. But we're not there yet. I think I still have more to give. If I think of quitting? I don't believe so. If I have to keep playing? I think so. But I need to find balance in life as well: if you don't have serenity, stability, you're a bomb, and bombs explode."
On contacts with Adriano Galliani, who wants to bring him to AC Monza:
"He calls me every day for three years and always says that Monza is beautiful, that there's beautiful nature, that the contract is already on the table. But we're not there yet: I am a player of Milan, and I'm proud to be. At a certain age, ego is gone; you don't need to prove anything. I'm here to help Milan, not as it is now. I want to be on the field; there I can help much more."
On what AC Milan lacked to take the next step in the Champions League:
"Leao is there, up and down like it happens to all players. We need to find the highest level and stability to achieve results. Everyone will find it with time. This year there were too many ups and downs. But this year we played like champions, and everyone wants to beat Milan. This team is the first to play like champions. And it's the second year in the Champions League: reaching the semifinals is a big step for us. What's missing? Time to reach where we want to be."
On Inter appearing superior to AC Milan, Ibrahimovic declared:
"Inter is the strongest team in Italy, on paper. They have much more experience and players who were more prepared than Milan. That's not an excuse, there are no excuses. Because when you put 11 players on the field, that's where the game is played. And they did better than us."
Ibrahimovic on who he supports in the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter:
"I can't support anyone because I play for Milan, and Inter is in the final. I played for Manchester United, and City is in the final. I hope it's a good game."
On the possibility of continuing to play for Milan under Paolo Maldini and Stefano Pioli:
"I don't know what's happening in the club. I know that I feel good at Milan, Milan is my home. I don't know anything about my contract. Last year, I told Paolo, 'You take care of it.' And I received a paper to sign. I don't know what's in it, maybe it's another year. All I need to know is that I'm a player of Milan, and then I know what I have to do. The rest doesn't matter to me. I only care about getting back on the field; otherwise, the joy diminishes. It's like going to work without an office. I haven't had an office for two years. I still have the desire, but balance is needed."
