Adriano Galliani, the AC Monza executive, has spoken to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper about the match against AC Milan and said these words:
For the first time opponents as executives (vs Ibrahimoivc). What's the feeling like?
"I don't speak about Zlatan's new role, I don't get into dynamics that don't concern me. And I don't want to talk about Ibra the footballer because everyone knows about his incredible career. I want to talk about the man: a more generous man you cannot find. Honest, loyal, always available. An example? If I ask him to record a greeting video for a fan in difficulty who expresses this wish to me, I received it in less than a minute. Zlatan is a beautiful person, I think of his humanity: not a day passed without him visiting Raiola in the hospital."
Your story begins on August 29, 2010, you got off the plane together. What happened since then?
"In reality, it could have happened much earlier, in 2006. Ariedo Braida was negotiating the final details, the contract was ready. Then came Calciopoli: Milan first relegated and then readmitted to Serie A with a 30-point deduction. Despite the penalty, we qualified for the Champions League, but it was too late. For the same reasons, Ibra was leaving Juventus, and in those conditions, Inter surpassed us. My first great regret."
Galliani added:
"Great loves make immense circles and then return. In 2009, Zlatan went to Barcelona for 70 million euros, and I could never have thought that after a year he would want to leave. The credit goes to my great friend Mino Raiola who already knew everything: I settled at Ibra's house until with him, wife, and children we got on Silvio Berlusconi's plane headed to Milan."
Was it the beginning of a new cycle? Galliani said:
"Together, we lived two wonderful years with another Serie A title. In the summer of 2012, Ibra wanted to stay at Milan, and I reassured him. I told him he would stay, we toasted at my house with a bottle of Dom Pérignon. Mino was there, who as usual had already understood everything: 'In two months he'll sell you.' It happened only because circumstances didn't allow otherwise. He didn't talk to me for two years, relations totally interrupted. He thought I had betrayed him and couldn't accept it. He wanted to stay at Milan and it was my second great regret."
How did you mend fences with Ibrahimovic?
"For the reason I mentioned before. Ibra is a loyal man, transparent even when he's pissed off. And his love for Milan was too great. Today we talk, message each other, he hasn't stopped calling me boss. Before the match, the president Scaroni, him, and I will be together in a room at the stadium: dinner with Monza-style risotto and ossobuco, we met halfway on the menu."
Will you manage to be adversaries?
"This is Silvio Berlusconi's match, and Zlatan was close to him, they had a close relationship."
Is it true that there was an attempt from Monza to sign Ibrahimovic?
"Absolutely true, as a player or anything else. His love for Milan was stronger. I tell him that I love him. I love Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Period."
Furthermore: Monza and Milan are the teams of your life. What emotion dominates?
"I supported Monza as a child and then came back, with Milan it was a karmic bond. But I repeat, it's Silvio Berlusconi's match, not a day goes by without thinking of him. If I have to make a decision, I ask myself what he would have done in my place.
"He was my life teacher. Monza and Milan are the two teams he loved intensely. Sometimes he would ask me: 'How did we do?' and I didn't understand which of the two he was referring to. From our first meeting, it was November 1, 1979, I saw his eyes shine many times, but two times more than others. On May 24, 1989, Milan's first victory in the Champions League after the 4-0 against Steaua Bucharest. The second on May 29, 2022, at 11:12 PM, the moment when Monza wins in Pisa and conquers the historic first Serie A promotion)."
READ MORE | Daniel Maldini talks about facing Milan and his father
