AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic fights for the ball with Sassuolo defender Gian Marco Ferrari during the Italian Serie A football at the San Siro stadium in Milan, November 28, 2021. — AFP pic
ROME, Dec 1 — Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he almost joined Napoli before returning to AC Milan in 2019, as he wanted to emulate the feat of Argentina great Diego Maradona by winning Serie A with the Naples club.
The 40-year-old Swedish striker joined Milan for a second time in December 2019 after leaving LA Galaxy.
However, the Swede was initially tempted by the prospect of guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto since the Maradona-inspired wins of 1987 and 1990.
“Watching a documentary about him, I decided to join Napoli and do what Diego did: win the league,” Ibrahimovic told Corriere della Sera today.
“I was tired of America and thinking of retiring. But (my agent) Mino (Raiola) said: ‘You’re crazy, you should go back to Italy.’
“It was all done with Napoli, but then (Napoli owner Aurelio) De Laurentiis fired (coach Carlo) Ancelotti. I asked Mino: ‘Which team is in the worst shape, that I can change?’
“He replied: ‘Yesterday Milan lost 5-0 to Atalanta’. So I decided.”
Ibrahimovic also said his famous overhead kick for Sweden against England in 2012 was the goal that made him happiest as “the English have always undervalued me”.
He also explained his spat with former Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku during a Milan derby in January.
The pair, former Manchester United team mates, butted heads and both were fined for unsportsmanlike conduct after exchanging insults.
Ibrahimovic said Lukaku has a “big ego” and was the first to insult him personally.
“I hit him in his weak spot… He lost control,” said the Swede.
“I have a score to settle with him, I hope to face him soon. These are things that must be resolved on the pitch. I do not hate anyone, let alone Lukaku.” — Reuters