Ibrahimovic returns to Sweden national team 5 years after retirement

Copenhagen, Mar 16 (efe-epa).- AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Tuesday was called up for the Sweden national team nearly five years after his international retirement.

The move was expected after Swedish coach Janne Andersson’s trip to Italy last fall to meet the 39-year-old, who has been putting on a stunning performance with the Serie A team.

Ibrahimovic has had tense relations with Andersson, criticizing his decision not to call up players of foreign origins in his first squad as the Sweden coach and dropped Juventus’ midfielder Dejan Kulusevski, who is of Macedonian origin, out of starting lineup.

Since retiring from international football following the 2016 UEFA Euros, Sweden’s all times top scorer with 62 goals in 116 games hinted at his comeback, including before the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which eventually turned out to be linked to an advertising campaign.

Sweden is scheduled to take on Georgia and Kosovo in the World Cup qualifiers later this month.

They have booked a place in the upcoming Euros scheduled this summer, having been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus.

“First and foremost, he is a very good football player, the best we have had in Sweden. It is of course very funny that he wants to come back. In addition to what he can contribute on the pitch, he has incredible experience and can contribute it to other players in the team,” Andersson said. EFE-EPA

alc/ta/jt