Zlatan Ibrahimovic is asserting himself and increasingly influencing the dynamics at AC Milan. As reported by calciomercato.com, the former Swedish champion's impact spans every facet of the club's daily operations, from managing the first team, youth sector, and the Milan Futuro project to administrative and marketing aspects.
Acting as a senior advisor to owner Gerry Cardinale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic effectively serves as an extension of the ownership. According to La Repubblica, however, there may be something more behind all of this.
The same newspaper has revealed the potential involvement of the U.S. investment firm Carlyle in Milan’s corporate structure, linked to the much-discussed vendor loan that Elliott granted RedBird. This loan, which is set to expire by August 2025, raises questions about the club's future governance. The loan initially amounted to 560 million euros at the time of the RedBird takeover but has grown to 653 million euros with interest, projected to reach 693 million euros.
Reportedly, Gerry Cardinale is exploring solutions to retain control of Milan.
These include turning to a third party to address the debt issue, with options such as extending the loan at higher interest rates or securing assistance to pay off the debt and solidify RedBird's full ownership of the club. One potential ally in this effort is a fund with which Ibrahimović, through his entrepreneurial ventures outside football, is reportedly already connected.
The revelation from Repubblica is that Zlatan Ibrahimović might serve as the key advocate for Carlyle, acting as a partner to Gerry Cardinale.
If this scenario proves accurate, it would represent a bold move to safeguard RedBird’s control of Milan, ensuring that the current majority shareholder and its key figureheads remain firmly in place.
