TF90M’s Italian Expert Marzia Hazra reports on Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovich, as doubts are raised over his future at Inter Milan.
Inter supporters everywhere must have felt chills running down their backs’ when Zlatan Ibrahimovic refused to answer questions regarding his future at the club after the game against Reggina, stating only;
“After the end of the season we’ll see what happens. For now I am only focused on winning this title.”
The elimination from the Champions League was obviously still on the Sweden international’s mind after failing to qualify for the third round for the third year running.
Would he leave Inter, the club he vowed to play for since his childhood, in his quest for European glory?
My guess would be that he stays in Inter one more season – at the very least.
The refusal to state his future could depend on a number of things. Could the Swede perhaps have grown tired of carrying the team? It is no surprise that Inter rely far too much on their star man to deliver and on top of that their entire game is built around his creativity. While being one of the most influential players at Inter it is safe to say that things would change radically if he decided to try his luck elsewhere.
If the Inter forward were to leave then there is only one likely destination; Spain. Barcelona and Real Madrid would probably be the only clubs able to keep up with Ibrahimovic’s salary demands, but with the Catalans’ already a strong team and Real’s obsession with Cristiano Ronaldo, the transfer seems rather unlikely.
Considering the colossal part Ibrahimovic plays for the Nerazzurri, I am sure that Inter will do almost anything in their power to keep him at their disposal.
Although the immediate threat of leaving seems rather transparent, it is more likely to be a message directed to the board that things will have to change at the club – something José Mourinho’s list of demands ahead of the new season looks to confirm.
The Special One wants to build for the future, as he himself expressed it; “I don’t work for short term success.”
Both Ibrahimovic and Mourinho want to strengthen the squad ahead of the coming season. Despite the fact that Inter seems to be en route to their third consecutive Scudetto, things have looked all but convincing through the majority of the season.
Last summer’s big signings flopped in more than one way and the biggest name of the bunch, Ricardo Quaresma, was shipped off to Chelsea on loan during the winter transfer window.
Although some state that Inter have one of Europe’s most in depth squads, it is quite the contrary as many players of the overly large troop are hardly ever put to use. This time around careful consideration will have to be put in to determine which players actually need to be brought in – and which players should come up through the ranks.
Mourinho recently stated that he wants to see more primavera players taking the step up to the senior team ahead of next season after the immediate successes of young starlets Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon who both play for the Azzurrini.
If nothing else, José Mourinho will have to resolve to the good old art of persuasion in order to keep the gangly striker in the fashion capital. Back in 2003 he managed to convince Deco of staying at Porto with the promise of winning the Champions League the up-coming season.
Any chance of a repeat? I guess there is no telling with the Special One.
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