Ibrahimovic in Awkward Reunion With Guardiola After Their Relationship Broke Down at Barcelona
- Italian giants AC Milan defeated Premier League champions Manchester City 3-2 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday evening
- Before the encounter at Yankee Stadium in New York, Man City manager Pep Guardiola met with legendary AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Guardiola and Ibrahimovic worked together in Spain about a decade ago at Barcelona, and they did not get on well
Zlatan Ibrahimovic briefly reunited with his former Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, before AC Milan’s pre-season match against Manchester City.
The Swedish star, who now serves as a senior advisor to AC Milan's ownership and management, had a tumultuous relationship with Guardiola during their one season together.
Source: Getty Images
The ex-Manchester United forward and Guardiola have not seen eye-to-eye since the former AC Milan forward and the Manchester City manager fell out during their time at Barcelona.
In his 2013 autobiography, I Am Zlatan, Ibrahimovic referred to Guardiola as a “spineless coward”, among other criticisms, while reflecting on Barcelona's infamous Champions League exit to Inter Milan.
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Ibrahimovic and Pep's awkward reunion in the USA
Over a decade after his time at Camp Nou, the AC Milan legend encountered the Spanish gaffer while exploring Yankee Stadium in New York.
In a video shared on social media, Guardiola approached Ibrahimovic, and the two shared a brief conversation before the pre-season match between Manchester City and AC Milan.
Reactions to the video:
Here are some of the responses to the encounter between Ibrahimovic and Guardiola.
@king.abid10:
"Wow the non-verbal speaks for itself."
@kidd.ing7:
"Zlatan don’t go to people to say hi, people goes to Zlatan."
_afgarcia:
"Good to see both of them together in a friendly way after so many years."
@parmeramilgrau:
"You're legend. Come to Palmeiras. There a place for you as a striker."
@tiagogreis:
"Best friends forever."
@hoorni:
"Zlatan almost doesn't look at Pepe’s eyes."
@marievalentiness:
"Haaland probably forced pep."
@barcauniversum:
"You don’t have to love everyone, respect is all you need. And that’s what I see there."
Ibrahimovic, who had previously claimed that Guardiola "hid from him" in the dressing room after a game, scored 22 goals in 46 appearances for Barcelona before moving permanently to AC Milan in 2011.
Despite this, their relationship remained strained. In 2017, Ibrahimovic remarked:
“The problem wasn’t with me; it was with him. He never came to terms with it. I don’t know what his issue was with me.”
Ibrahimovic poses with Haaland
Zlatan Ibrahimovic brings his signature wit as he poses with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The charismatic Swede joined Haaland before AC Milan’s pre-season clash with the Premier League team.
Zlatan’s Milan won the friendly, defeating City 3-2 at Yankee Stadium in New York.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
