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Milan President Hails 'Fantastic' Zlatan Ibrahimovic Amid Agent Meeting Rumours
November 16, 2018
AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni has described Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic as "fantastic" amid rumours the player's agent, Mino Raiola, will be in Milan on Friday to discuss his future.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Scaroni was talking about some of his favourite players and expressed his admiration for current winger Suso. He also spoke about Ibrahimovic and the continued speculation he might be set for a second spell at the San Siro.
"Ibrahimovic will be free to choose his new team," Scaroni said. "He's a fantastic player. I love him as a fan for how he combines his height with agility, but I don't make decisions with regards to transfers. Besides, my absolute favourite player is already in our team: Suso."
It has also been reported by Calciomercato (h/t Football Italia) that Raiola will be in Milan to provide support to midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura, a client who is set for a five-month spell on the sidelines due to injury.
However, Calciomercato says the visit may also be used to "accelerate a deal for Ibrahimovic," and his relationship with the Rossoneri is "back to being very good."
Following the conclusion of the Major League Soccer season, rumours about Ibrahimovic potentially heading back to Milan have been ramped up.
According to Fabrizio Romano of Calciomercato.com, key figures at the San Siro are "determined and convinced" about signing the 37-year-old, who only joined the Galaxy earlier in the year after being released by Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic is regarded as one of the most gifted forwards of his generation. In his two-year spell at Milan that began in 2010, he played some of the best football of his distinguished career, netting 56 goals in 85 appearances.
The forward also enjoyed prosperous spells in front of goal for both Juventus and Inter Milan:
Although he's now in the twilight of his career and suffered a serious injury while playing for United at the end of the 2016-17 season, he's proved he can still be an effective forward in the United States.
He made an instant impact with the Galaxy, netting a brace off the bench in a thrilling 4-3 win over local rivals Los Angeles FC. The first goal was this stunning strike that was awarded Goal of the Year for the 2018 MLS season:
Ibrahimovic netted 22 goals and laid on six assists in his 27 appearances in the league for the Galaxy, with the team eventually coming up just short of the six-team Western Conference playoffs.
Milan do have firepower in their squad already. Suso has proved to be productive from a wider berth, while Gonzalo Higuain is a proven goalscorer in Italian football's top flight. In addition, Patrick Cutrone is rated as one of the best attacking prospects in Serie A.
Even so, with the Rossoneri pushing for a top-four finish this season, they may need an edge in the second half of the campaign; they currently sit in fifth. If they could secure Ibrahimovic, it would not only be a popular acquisition, but it could push Milan ahead of some of their positional rivals.