Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back at the heart of AC Milan's project after returning to the club's Milanello training centre for the first time in over six months.
Key Highlights
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to Milanello for the first time in more than six months.
- The former striker watched Ruben Amorim's squad train ahead of their Europa League opener against Benfica.
- Ibrahimovic's absence followed a reported confrontation with Massimiliano Allegri at the end of last season.
- His collaboration with Gerry Cardinale and RedBird has remained active despite his extended absence from Milanello.
Ibrahimovic Makes Long-Awaited Milanello Return
According to Sky Sport Italia, the former Milan striker and current RedBird advisor was present on Monday morning to watch the first-team squad train ahead of their upcoming European campaign.
Ibrahimovic closely followed the session as Ruben Amorim put his players through their preparations for Wednesday's Europa League opener against Benfica. His return comes at an important point for Milan, with the club looking to build momentum after a mixed start to the Serie A season.
Ibrahimovic's Six-Month Absence Follows Allegri Fallout
Ibrahimovic's lengthy absence from Milanello came after the turbulent end to Massimiliano Allegri's second spell in charge of Milan. The last reported sighting of Ibrahimovic at the training ground came during a period of tension between the former striker and Allegri, with the pair reportedly involved in a "strong confrontation."
The dispute came during a disappointing campaign for the Rossoneri, who eventually finished fifth in Serie A and missed out on Champions League qualification. Allegri was subsequently dismissed the day after the season ended. Ibrahimovic then appeared to take a lower-profile role around the club, spending part of the summer working as a pundit for Fox Sports during the World Cup and missing several notable Milan events.
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RedBird Partnership Remains Strong
Despite his absence from Milanello, Ibrahimovic's relationship with Milan owner Gerry Cardinale and RedBird did not come to an end. After clear-the-air discussions during the summer, the former Sweden international has returned to a more active position within the club. Sky Sport Italia reported that his collaboration with Cardinale remained "very much active" throughout his time away.
As a senior advisor to RedBird, Ibrahimovic's role involves helping connect the club's ownership and sporting operations. His return to Milanello therefore represents more than a symbolic appearance, with the former striker once again closely involved around the first-team setup.
Milan's Serie A Momentum Has Stalled
Milan currently sit fifth in Serie A with eight points from their opening four matches. Amorim's side made a strong start domestically with consecutive victories over Torino and Venezia, but their momentum has since slowed after back-to-back away draws against Juventus and Lazio.
The focus now turns to Europe, with Milan hosting Benfica on Wednesday in their Europa League opener. They will then return to Serie A action against Lecce at San Siro on Sunday before the international break.
With Ibrahimovic back at Milanello and the European campaign getting underway, the coming weeks will offer an early indication of whether Milan can turn their promising start into a more consistent season.
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