Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to Milanello at a moment when Milan are beginning another European chapter, with the club’s former striker once again close to the squad after six months away from the daily life of the training ground.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Milanello as Milan begin a new chapter
The Swede was present on Monday for Rúben Amorim’s training session, ending an absence linked to tensions with Massimiliano Allegri during the final part of last season. Allegri has since left Milan and is now in charge of Napoli, while Milan have reshaped their sporting structure and placed Amorim on the bench.
Ibrahimovic is expected to be at San Siro on Wednesday for Milan’s Europa League opening match against Benfica. It will mark a visible return for a figure who remains an adviser within the club’s senior leadership, rather than a former player watching from afar.
The coach and the club
Ibrahimovic came back to Milan in 2023 in an executive capacity after winning two Scudetti with the Rossoneri as a player. His role has involved advising the ownership group, working closely with RedBird and Gerry Cardinale on sporting and structural decisions.
His responsibilities have extended across football operations, commercial work, player development, high-performance matters and special projects, including the plans for a new stadium. But the relationship with Allegri became strained near the end of the previous campaign, and Ibrahimovic stepped away from the project for half a year.
Allegri’s departure and the arrival of Amorim have changed the atmosphere around the club. Milan have also reinforced the squad with significant additions including Gonçalo Ramos and Diego Moreira, giving Ibrahimovic a new group to meet as he resumes his place around the first team.
During his time away from Milanello, Ibrahimovic travelled to the United States to work from Fox’s Los Angeles studio as a World Cup analyst alongside former internationals Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas.
For Milan, the return brings back a familiar presence with influence beyond the dressing room. Ibrahimovic’s playing career took him through Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but his current task is tied to the direction of a club attempting to settle into Amorim’s new era.
SEO Title: Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Milanello before Benfica match
SEO Description: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has resumed his Milan role after six months away, attending Rúben Amorim’s training session ahead of the Europa League opener against Benfica.
