Ibrahimovic discusses ‘pressure, demands, obligations’ at Milan and being a ‘Guardian angel’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke in front of journalists at a hotel in New Jersey last night, and he was in his usual entertainer mood as he talked about his return to AC Milan among other topics.

The Athletic sent Adam Crafton to the event and he writes how Ibrahimovic walked into the bar and announced himself by stating: “I have only one restriction when I do interviews: when a journalist comes for an interview, he first must put on this outfit.”

He was pointing to the Milan mascot’s red devil costume resting on a nearby table, and after breaking the ice he added “My time is expensive. Let’s get going.”

When asked about whether he would practice for his first pitch at the New York Yankees game (which took place after the interview) he said ‘no’, and then he was asked which Olympic sports he think he would be best at.

“I would be the best in every ball sport. Martial arts — I could challenge. I used to do taekwondo. With my feet, I’m fast, I move well. I had the advantage of being 1.97m tall, but moved like a guy of 1.60m. That’s why I was a freak of nature.

“This is not me trying to impress you. These are true facts. But I like the adrenaline of taekwondo. I like duels. I need to feel alive. That is the only thing I miss with football. It is not actually playing football. I just miss sometimes feeling… alive.

“Imagine you are in front of 80,000 people, my friend. If you were so small, you would get so big. And imagine if you can get 80,000 to bounce or you can make them cry. This is who I was.”

Ibra is officially a Senior Advisor to the Milan board and to the owners RedBird Capital, which he describes ‘daily work’, adding: “I have a finger in many categories to bring results and bring up the value, all with an ambition to win.”

Not only that, but he gets to watch his son Maximilian rise through the ranks, who signed his first professional contract with the club over the summer, and his younger son Vincent is also in the youth sector. “The younger one is coming, but I keep silent,” Zlatan said.

Zlatan heads to watch training at Milanello twice a week but he suggested that his involvement is not too hands on: “But I’m not a babysitter. My players, they’re adults and they have to take responsibility. They have to do 200 per cent even when I’m not there.”

Asked whether he would like to try coaching, he responded: “You see my grey hair? Fully grey hair is after one week as a coach. A coach’s life is up to 12 hours per day. You absolutely don’t have free time.

“My role is connect everything; to be a leader from above and make sure the structure and organisation works. To keep everybody on their toes.”

The fact that he took up a role with RedBird and not just Milan is a nod to the fact that he wishes to learn about the business side of sport and not just to stick entirely to the field.

“I am curious about entertainment. But I only do things I believe in. I would not do it just to promote myself for nothing.”