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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 03: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Senior Advisor of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between AC Milan and Juventus at Al Awwal Park on January 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has named former Netherlands international Marco van Basten as the Milan player he most looked up to growing up, and says that he struggled initially to handle the comparisons between himself and the former Rossoneri star.
Ibrahimovic on biggest Milan inspirations: ‘He remains in history’
Ibrahimovic recently appeared in a feature with CBS Sports, talking all things Rossonero during a tour of the club’s training ground, Milanello.
At the beginning of his interview, Ibrahimovic was asked which Milan player he most looked up to growing up.
“I have Marco van Basten,” said Ibarhimovic. “When I came to Ajax, he was also playing there and they compared me with him at Ajax. And already there the pressure was too high for me because I was not ready to handle that pressure on that level because obviously Van Basten is an icon, a legend.
“And at this club, he’s part of the trio: van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard. They’re the three from Holland that made history with the club. And I was compared with him because I was a striker, the way I was playing. So he was my symbolic ‘logo’ of Milan.
“He was amazing. He only had a short career, but for what he did, he remains in history, and not only at Milan, in global football.”
ByPeter Young
Peter Young is a Senior Reporter with Football Italia.
