Former Milan player Antonio Cassano has spoken out in defense of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, dismissing rumors of arguments and suggesting that Massimiliano Allegri will be dismissed from his coaching position at Milan, irrespective of the team’s Champions League qualification status.
Cassano, a vocal critic of Allegri, believes the Italian coach will face the sack at the end of the season, even if Milan secures a spot in the Champions League. Reports from Corriere della Sera indicated a recent dispute between Allegri and Ibrahimovic, who holds a senior advisory role at Milan, allegedly concerning Cassano himself.
During a podcast, Cassano addressed his relationship with Ibrahimovic and the rumors. “He [Ibrahimovic] is a director and does what he wants. I’ve known him for 16 years. He’s a friend of mine, like Thiago Silva, Totti, Montella, and many others. I talk to Ibra every time I want, and we don’t talk about Allegri because he [Ibra] doesn’t need me to say certain things. He tells them to Allegri’s face, as he used to do as a footballer,” Cassano stated.
He further suggested that Allegri might be orchestrating the release of certain information to the press. “Allegri has already moved his men, so certain things emerge because he knows they’ll kick him out regardless of Champions League qualification. Allegri will go home, like Tare, who has picked him,” Cassano asserted. “After all the disasters he’s made, without giving an identity to the team. Are the fans fools? With Ibrahimovic, we talk about family and holiday, I don’t need to call him to talk about Allegri. Milan can’t be represented by a mediocre coach.”
Both Cassano and Ibrahimovic were part of the Milan squad that won the Scudetto under Allegri in the 2010-11 season. While Ibrahimovic was not present at the recent match against Genoa, which Milan won, Italian sources suggest that Allegri’s future at the club hinges on Ibrahimovic’s continued presence beyond the summer.
Cassano emphasized the strength of his bond with Ibrahimovic. “Ibrahimovic is very fond of me, and he was close to me when I didn’t feel well. He’s a loyal person,” Cassano concluded. “The special relationship between him and me remains, and we don’t need to talk about anything else. If these things emerged, it’s because the smear machine was set in motion, and Allegri did it deliberately.”
