Ibrahimovic move sparks mixed reactions
Reuters - Sunday 29 August 2010, 09:32
MILAN - AC Milan's capture of Zlatan
Ibrahimovic from Barcelona could be the key deal which helps
the club finally challenge again at the top of Serie A even if
some pundits feel the move is an act of desperation.
Milan have not won the scudetto since 2004 and owner Silvio
Berlusconi's frugal approach to transfers during the global
economic crisis meant there was little hope of the Rossoneri
threatening perennial champions Inter Milan until now.
The Italian prime minister said in July that the prospect
of a move for former Inter striker Ibrahimovic was unlikely
because the Swede might not fit into the dressing room.
A few lacklustre pre-season performances later under new
coach Massimiliano Allegri and Milan have shifted their
thinking on the eve of the new Serie A season to try to avoid
another third-place finish in the league.
"With a man like that upfront, Milan can close the gap," AS
Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, who led his side to a close second
behind Inter last term, told reporters.
Ibrahimovic was the talisman for Inter's 2007, 2008 and
2009 scudettos but his first season at Barcelona was mixed,
allowing seven-times European champions Milan to pounce.
"All of us at Milan have to thank Silvio Berlusconi for the
economic force he has put into the deal," Milan chief executive
Adriano Galliani told reporters on announcing the transfer.
Milan were losing 70 million euros a year before selling
Kaka to Real Madrid in the last close season for 67 million.
Millionaire tycoon Berlusconi said such losses were
unacceptable in times of austerity and at first allowed just a
free transfer and low-key loans in this transfer window,
including the bizarre recruitment of Kevin Prince Boateng.
WORKED WONDERS
Genoa bought the Ghana midfielder from Portsmouth and then
immediately loaned him to Milan, who planned to buy him
outright from their Serie A rivals once finances picked up.
Galliani has worked wonders to convince Barcelona to accept
a similar deal over Ibrahimovic whereby he is on loan at Milan
for the first season before the Rossoneri have the right to buy
for 24 million euros.
The figure is significantly less than Barca paid for him
last July in a swap deal with Inter involving Samuel Eto'o
which was valued around 66 million euros.
Despite Milan's cleverness in keeping the cost of the
transfer down, some experts believe the move is evidence of
Milan admitting that the policy of only signing journeymen and
relying on the waning talents of Ronaldinho did not work.
"It's panic buying at the end of the tranfer window. Milan
and Berlusconi have become desperate," Professor Chris Brady,
dean of London's BPP Business School and a former
semi-professional footballer, told Reuters.
"I don't understand this deal, I really don't."
Part of the reason for the perplexity is Ibrahimovic's past
at city rivals Inter, whose fans are bound to give the Swede a
rough ride in the San Siro derbies this season.
The 28-year-old was a hero with Inter but quit last year
saying he had won everything he could in Italy and needed the
challenge in the Champions League.
Inter had their revenge on him by winning the Champions
League last season as part of an unprecedented Italian treble,
beating Ibrahimovic's Barca in the semi-finals.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has said he is surprised by
Ibrahimovic's move, even if the Swede once played for big
rivals Juventus too.
Milan fans will simply hope Ibrahimovic does not go the way
of the last former Inter striker they purchased.
Brazilian Ronaldo was a shadow of his former Inter self
when Milan signed him from Real and he was quickly shown the
door after serious injury.
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