Zlatan Ibrahimovic Will Reportedly Join AC Milan from LA Galaxy on 6-Month Loan
November 24, 2018
AC Milan and L.A. Galaxy have reportedly reached a compromise regarding Zlatan Ibrahimovic's move, with the Swede set to join his former club on a six-month loan deal.
According to Gazzeta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), the Galaxy are not willing to sell Ibrahimovic right now, so he'll return to Europe on an initial loan. At the end of the season, the parties will sit down again to discuss a possible permanent transfer.
Gazzetta have reported at length about the ongoing negotiations during the international break and previously stated the veteran had agreed to a six-month deal worth €2 million (h/t Calciomercato.com and Marca).
The 37-year-old has addressed the speculation, acknowledging the Rossoneri interest but saying he wouldn't mind staying in Los Angeles, per Vanity Fair (h/t Chris Burton of Goal):
"There's interest, but I'd be fine spending another year in Los Angeles. It's no secret that Milan like me. I had two wonderful years there and didn't want to leave, but they 'forced' me to go to Paris.
"We won things, I ran out top scorer at a great club with a great atmosphere, plus the old guard was still there. They were an incredible group of players, with whom I was lucky to play and win. And I know what it means to win in Italy. Winning is everything."
Ibrahimovic was a major success in his first year in MLS, bagging 22 goals on his way to the Newcomer of the Year award:
His great form invited plenty of speculation, however. Even at the age of 37, Ibrahimovic is still scoring at an impressive rate, making him a prime mid-season target for a club desperate for goals.
ESPN FC's Hercules Gomez didn't expect to see him in a Galaxy shirt again after the team failed to qualify for the MLS play-offs:
The Galaxy won't be keen on losing their biggest star less than a year after bringing him into the fold, and a loan may be the perfect solution. The team has allowed its European players to do so in the past, with David Beckham spending time with Milan.
If this move goes through, the two clubs will have a big conversation ahead of themselves in the summer, depending on how well Ibrahimovic performs in the Italian fashion capital. Those are worries for later, however.