The Swedish striker has reflected on his altercation with his former Manchester United teammate after the pair faced off in last season’s Milan derby
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku battled it out in a Milan derby last season, things got personal between the former Manchester Unitedcolleagues in a heated first-half moment.
Sweden and Milan striker Ibrahimovic made a “voodoo” comment towards Belgium international Lukaku – then at Inter – when the Milanese rivals met in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.
Nearly a year on, the veteran has reflected on the coming-together at the San Siro, where Ibrahimovic was sent off for two yellow cards before Christian Eriksen’s late winner handed victory to the Nerazzurri against their fierce rivals.
And the 40-year-old has insisted he doesn’t hate Lukaku, offering to “settle the bill” with the Chelseastriker when they next meet on the pitch
After recovering from the injury which kept him out of Euro 2020, Ibrahimovic has returned to action with Milan and scored five goals this season.
The Rossoneri could end up meeting Lukaku’s Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League, depending on how results go in the final round of group games.
And if the pair are reunited on the field of play, the veteran has made clear his position on the former Inter man
Lukaku has a great ego, he thinks he’s a champion and he’s really strong. But I grew up in the Malmo ghetto, and when someone comes under me with his head down, I put him in his place,” Ibrahimovic told Corriere della Sera, as translated by Football Italia.
“So, I hit him in his sweet spot: his Mum’s rituals. And he lost control. Although, I still have a terrible doubt… we lost that derby. I was sent off. Then I got injured. A lot of bad things happened. You’ll see that the Lukaku rituals really got me?”
The war of words between the two strikers continued off the pitch, with Lukaku taking aim at Ibrahimovic on social media after Inter won the Serie A title, but the Swede wants another opportunity to battle things out on the pitch.
“I asked my believing friends to pray for me. I have to settle the bill with him too. I hope to meet him soon,” Ibrahimovic added.
“On the street? No, these are things that must be resolved on the pitch. I don’t hate anyone, much less Lukaku.”
