When, the day after the season finale, owner Gerry Cardinale returned to Paolo Maldini’s role, stressing that he had removed him from the club in 2023 because he wanted to be a one-man show, the surprise was considerable. Not so much because of whether the claim was true or not, but because the American manager’s number one advisor is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who built an entire career on being in the spotlight and at the centre of the stage, naturally supported by world-class technical and physical abilities. And the events of recent weeks, the past year and recent seasons seem to confirm this.
Ibrahimovic and a one-man show:
After, in Fonseca and Conceição’s season, he was also physically and publicly in the spotlight as a Milan executive, even though everyone is always keen to point out that formally he is not, in the latest season Zlatan Ibrahimovic had actually seemed to step back and return within the boundaries of his role as RedBird consultant. Instead, towards the end of the season, worrying details emerged about the situation at Casa Milan: clashes with Allegri, internal disputes with other members of the management, and messages to players consistently against the coach. At the end of the season he succeeded in getting a clear-out done, but then together with Cardinale he has still not managed to find suitable replacements. And in this case too, his influence is evident. Ralf Rangnick set clear conditions to become Milan’s technical director: they involved being given a free hand over his staff and the transfer market, without external interference as had happened too often in recent times. This request did not go down well with Ibrahimovic, who worked against Rangnick. Also due to the Swede’s opposition, and given the increasingly long delays, the German eventually decided not to wait any longer and to cut off all communication with Milan.
All of this is being done behind the scenes, since Zlatan Ibrahimovic is currently in the United States as a Fox Sports commentator for the World Cup: every day he posts some social media content that drives Milan fans furious, and during the night, directly from Los Angeles, he even appeared dressed in red and black, almost as if he wanted to draw attention to himself. It is clear, in light of Rangnick’s decision, that Ibrahimovic will have influence at Milan and is pushing to shape it according to his own vision. The question that naturally arises is: given the recent situation with Allegri, given what happened with Rangnick, and given his exuberant personality, who will agree to work in Ibrahimovic’s shadow? Would an experienced and skilled executive like Krosche accept being dictated to by Ibrahimovic? Or someone like Planes? It is difficult to say, but the scorched earth and the rejections Milan is receiving perhaps speak louder than many words.
