Zlatan Ibrahimović in Danger of Scuppering AC Milan Move With Sky-High Wage Demands
By Tom Gott
AC Milan are currently reluctant to finalise a deal for Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, with the forward's wage demands proving to be a real problem in negotiations.
The 38-year-old will officially walk away from LA Galaxy when his deal expires at the end of the month, and it is widely expected that he will return to Serie A in January. Milan are one of several sides keen on a deal, and they are thought to be leading the race for his signature.
However, according to ESPN, the deal is by no means a certainty as the two parties are yet to agree on the finances. Ibrahimović has suggested some fresh demands, but Milan officials are reluctant to agree to them just yet.
He is said to be demanding close to €230,000 per week, which is well in excess of what Milan would be happy to pay him.
The board are fairly divided about the potential signing. There are some who want to see Milan prioritise recruiting young players, but there are others who recognise the desperate need for some more firepower in attack,
There is also the marketing side of the deal to consider. The Swede is seen as a huge commercial draw, especially during Milan's 120th anniversary year, so it is a question of whether the positives outweigh the negatives.
To this point, Ibrahimović has been fairly non-committal about his future in public. Instead, he has opted to drop about 1,000 mini hints about potential moves to clubs, all of which have amounted to nothing.
His latest hint came while speaking to GQ Italia, but this one might actually turn out to be true. Without naming names, he appeared to describe Milan perfectly, before specifically suggesting he was returning to Italy.
"I will join a club that must get back to winning, that has to renew its history and is in search of a battle against everyone and everything," he said.
"That is the only way I'll be able to find the necessary motivation to surprise you again. It's not just about choosing a team, as there are other factors that need to line up, including in the interests of my family. I'll see you in Italy soon."