Marco Materazzi doesn’t hold back when it comes to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The former Inter defender, who won the treble in 2010, took a shot at his old teammate while talking to Gazzetta this week. And honestly, it’s vintage Materazzi — equal parts funny and cutting.
“I can’t really say anything about him because, with what he’s doing, he’s the biggest Inter fan in history,” Materazzi said.
The jab is aimed at Ibrahimovic’s current role as senior advisor to AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale. And right now, that job is looking like a nightmare. Milan just finished the 2025-26 season by firing coach Massimiliano Allegri and sending directors Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada and Igli Tare packing. No clear succession plan was in place. They eventually hired Ruben Amorim on a three-year deal, but they struck out on Ralf Rangnick and Markus Kroche for the football director role. So basically, the guy making the big decisions on transfers and long-term vision? Still nobody.
That’s why Materazzi’s comment lands. Ibrahimovic, who played for both Milan clubs and won Serie A with each, is now the face of a front office that looks lost. And for a guy who once forced his way out of Inter to join Barcelona in 2009 — a move that directly led to Samuel Eto’o coming the other way — the irony is thick.
Materazzi didn’t stop there. He went on to praise Eto’o, the guy who replaced Ibra and helped Inter win everything. “Eto’o knew he was strong; he had an incredible ego, but he put himself at the team’s disposal with humility,” Materazzi said. “Even if, in footballing terms, he’s not the most humble I’ve ever met, he always gave his all for the team. He didn’t care whether Milito, Materazzi or Zanetti would score. What mattered was to lift the trophies. For this reason, I’ll forever be grateful to Ibrahimovic, as he left Barcelona and let us get Eto’o.”
So yeah. Materazzi is basically saying thanks for leaving, Zlatan. You made Inter great. Now you’re helping us again by running our rivals into the ground.
Ibrahimovic hasn’t responded publicly. But knowing him, it’s only a matter of time before he fires back with something that’ll make headlines for a week.
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