Will Ibrahimovic return to AC Milan? The Italian press believes the Rossoneri coach is floundering without the legend in his squad

Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired in the summer, and apart from marking the end of a great legend in the football world, his departure also seems to have marked AC Milan. The Italian press is even calling for his return.

AC Milan went through some big changes in the summer. The legendary Paolo Maldini retired from the club and the equally famous Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his career. Although the Italian side did their best to stay on top, they seem to be floundering.

The results don’t look too bad. In Serie A, the Rossoneri are in a solid second position with 21 points from 9 games, however, in the Champions League group of death, they hold the last position with two points, ahead of Newcastle (4 points), Dortmund (4 points) and PSG (6 points).

The game picture is not ideal though. The performances are unstable, the attack is plagued by productivity despite some interesting names. Coach Stefano Pioli is facing increasing criticism and fans and pundits alike are wondering if he still has something to pass on to the team.

AC Milan did win one title under his leadership, but it was whispered rather loudly that it was more a credit to another man. Ibrahimovic returned to the San Siro and the team has picked up significantly.

He acted as an absolute role model for the rest of the squad. He had a huge influence on all the players. He didn’t even have to play. It was enough to be present, despite the injury. His work ethic, his authority, his confidence and his persona in general were evident.

Should Ibrahimovic come back?

The man who believes he is the best footballer in history is simply missed by the team. He may not have been a coach, but he is now showing that he could have had a bit more influence on the AC Milan stars than Stefano Pioli. Even Paolo Maldini was an important part of the implementation team.

The Italian press is even calling for the return of the Swedish legend. In a recent column, La Gazzetta dello Sport called for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return at least in a motivational role.

According to the Italian media, the Rossoneri players need a charismatic personality in the dressing room, which Ibrahimovic undoubtedly is. But can it work? The former AC, Inter or Juventus player himself has been wondering what he will do since the end of his career and his next steps are a big unknown.

There is no doubt that Ibrahimovic’s contribution would still be on the pitch. But that is pretty much completely out of the question. However, any involvement with the AC Milan management team could give him interesting experience and open up his horizons for the years to come.

Source: Football-Italia, Transfermarkt