Well, that didn’t take long. In his first start since returning to AC Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a well-taken goal to help his side beat Cagliari 2-0 on Saturday.
Ibrahimovic scored 56 goals in 85 appearances for the Rossoneri from 2010-12. Back with the club, following stops at PSG, Manchester United and the LA Galaxy, Ibrahimovic has already changed the way the team plays.
The Swedish striker made a 35-minute cameo against Sampdoria in a 0-0 draw on Jan. 6, wearing No. 21. In his first start on Saturday, he ensured the three points with his first goal in Serie A since leading the league in scoring in 2011-12.
HE'S BACK. Zlatan scores his first goal since returning to AC Milan!
Stream on ESPN+ https://t.co/Zm0KHz1gcz pic.twitter.com/nvBF9yBC6D— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2020
Zlatan scoring goals is no surprise. What is surprising is how quickly his teammates have fallen in love with him.
Look at how Rafael Leão, who scored Milan’s first goal, looks at Ibrahimovic after the goal.
Get you a teammate who looks at you like Leão looks at Zlatan.
Despite not having started a match since Oct. 25 against LAFC, Ibrahimovic played the full 90.
The win helped AC Milan jump back into the top half of Serie A, at least for the moment as this was the first match of the weekend.
Can Ibra help turn around Milan’s season and get the Rossoneri back into Champions League contention? If love has anything to say about it, Leão and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will ride off into the sunset as Serie A champs (or, let’s be realistic, with a top-four finish).
Next up for AC Milan is a home game against SPAL in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.