Zlatan Ibrahimovic put his shoes on the shelf last year.
Now the Swede gives a new insight into his decision.
– I accepted to stop playing football, which was a difficult thing because of my ego, he says in the #ABTalks podcast.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 42, put his shoes on the shelf last year and now works for Milan’s owner RedBird as a “senior advisor” in the Italian big club.
Ibrahimovic has spoken on several occasions about what it was like for him to retire, and now he gives a new insight into the decision in the podcast #ABTalks.
– I feel well and life is good. I stopped playing football eight months ago, and have a completely different life now. I accepted to stop playing football, which was a difficult thing because of my ego and because of the way I think about myself, he says in the podcast and continues:
– I think I’m the best, I’m still the best and I could continue, but I chose to stop. Why? Because I want to have a good life with my family. I want to be able to do things with my sons. The consequence was that I would not be able to do things with my sons, as I had problems with one of my knees. I accepted it, and came to a moment where I said: “It’s okay, let it go and start a new chapter in your life”.
Ibrahimovic is now enjoying his new role in Milan.
– I met Gerry Cardinale, who controls the RedBird fund that bought Milan, and he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I started working in Milan, and now I’ve been there for three or four months. He treats me well.