RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 3: AC Milan senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic watches the Italian Super Cup semi-final match between AC Milan and Juventus on January 3, 2025 at Al Awal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by: Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s public praise of target Kerim Alazibegović, Redbird CEO Jerry Cardinale attended today’s Milan summit and appointed Massimo Calvelli as the new CEO. “That’s unusual.”
This was the club’s first major meeting since deciding on the new hierarchy, but Cardinale himself was not expected to be at Casa Milan’s headquarters.
According to Sport Mediaset, the ceremony was attended by Cardinale, new CEO Massimo Calvelli, head of player trading Hendrik Almstadt, head of football intelligence Bobby Gardiner and chief scout Donato LoMonte.
Ibrahimovic eyes AC Milan target
Ibrahimovic, a special advisor to the Red Birds, was unable to attend because he is working in the United States for Fox Sports as a TV pundit during the World Cup.
However, he has been acting as a scout for Milan anyway, commenting on the sensational goals scored by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s talented Alaibegovic.
“Everyone talks about goals, but for me goals are not the biggest thing. The biggest thing is courage,” Ibrahimovic told FOX Sports.
“For an 18-year-old player to go to the World Cup and play like he owns the stadium, under the pressure of millions of people watching, that’s rare.
“Many young players have talent. Talent is everywhere. But talent without character means nothing. When I watched Kerim, I didn’t see a young player who wanted to play well. I saw a player who believed he was the best player on the pitch.”
“The finishing was beautiful, yes. The technique was perfect, yes. But what impressed me was his confidence in front of goal. The way he demanded the ball, the way he attacked in the moment. Great players don’t wait for chances. They create them,” Ibrahimovic added.
It has long been reported that Alaybegovic is keen on a move to Serie A, with Bayer Leverkusen looking to sell him after an impressive loan spell with RB Salzburg.
However, Roma, Napoli and Atalanta don’t seem to consider him a priority at all, which could give Milan a chance to pounce.
He primarily plays on the left side of the attacking trio, thus playing the same role as Rafael Leao, but here too they face a predicament.
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