Zlatan Ibrahimovic reduced to tears on return to Sweden squad

The normally stoic 39-year-old, who is making a return to international football after first retiring in 2016, became emotional as he described how his 12-year-old son Vincent became tearful when he left home to rejoin the squad after a five-year absence.

“Vincent cried when I left him,” Ibrahimovic said in the press conference, sitting alongside Sweden coach Janne Andersson, before shedding a few tears himself.

After learning of Ibrahimovic’s interest in making a surprise return, Andersson flew to Milan to seal the deal.

Ibrahimovic has rejoined the squad for the countries first qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.

“What a f**king joke. Another proof. Incompetent people in the wrong positions that suffocate Swedish football.”

But on his return, the former Barcelona and Manchester United striker was respectful of the manager.

“To play in the national team is the biggest thing you can do as a football player, and as I was following them (Sweden), inside me I was feeling I think I can help them, I think I can do something,” Ibrahimovic said.

“Obviously it’s not up to me, what a player wants and what a coach wants, it has to go together. I’ve got the opportunity now to play for my country and I do it with honour, but it’s not only about that — it sounds like I’m only happy to be here, but I’m here to get results, to bring results for the coach and my team-mates and the whole country.

“As much as I talk here, if I don’t bring results, here it means nothing.”

Sweden begin qualification with the arrival of Georgia on Thursday before visiting Kosovo three days later. The international period is finished with a friendly against Estonia.

Ibrahimovic, despite being one of the older statesmen in the Italian topflight, has showed his excellence this season, scoring 15 league goals and helping AC Milan to second in the table.