Nomadic star Ibrahimovic settles back in Italy (News Feature)

By Alberto Cagliano and Duncan Shaw Aug 29, 2010, 10:50 GMT

Rome - The arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan finally spiced up a fairly dull Serie A summer transfer market.

It also boosted the Devils' chances of mounting a challenge on champions Inter Milan - the crosswtown rivals the Swede left a year ago for Barcelona.

After four days of negotiations in Spain, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani snatched the striker on loan for the current season and then for 24 million euros (30.5 million dollars) from 2011 onwards.

Barca, by contrast, forked out around 70 million euros in total for him 12 months ago, in cash and the transfer fee of Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o to Inter.

Ibrahimovic's name in golden letters topped the front page of AC Milan's website, which reported about the official announcement of the transfer that club owner Silvio Berlusconi made on Saturday evening.

The Italian prime minister's helicopter arrived at the Devils' camp, he met the players, had a brief telephone conversation with Ibra and took off about an hour later.

The Swede was expected at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium late Sunday for Milan's season debut against promoted Lecce. He was to sign a four-year deal on Monday after a medical but won't be officially presented until after upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.

'They gave me back my smile,' were Ibra's first words after the agreement was clinched. 'I leave with great motivations to do even better. In life you make changes. Not everything goes as you thought.

'I will do all I can to win with Milan, also in the Champions League. They are one of the strongest teams in the world, even greater than Barcelona.

'I am very happy. Going to Milan is what I wanted. With Ronaldinho and Pato we will have a very strong attack.

'I do not think that the Interisti think about me now. They won everything. They have other things to think about.'

After the incomprehensions and the bitterness of the past months - a key factor in his departure - Ibra said he doubts he will ever again greet Barca coach Josep Guardiola, whom he blamed for the swift end of the Spanish adventure.

'The blame for all of this corresponds to the 'philosopher coach.' When I enter into a room, he leaves. I don't know if he is afraid of me or what,' he said.

The relationship between Guardiola and Ibrahimovic, two of the strongest personalities in modern football, went from idyllic to acrimonious in just one year.

Ironically, Ibrahimovic only came to Barcelona in the first place because Guardiola wanted to offload another talented but explosive forward, Samuel Eto'o. The only way that Barca could get rid of Eto'o was an expensive swap-plus-payment deal with Inter.

Ibrahimovic was presented to the Barca fans with much pomp and circumstance. But he fell out with Guardiola in the spring, partly due to a petulant sending-off in the 2-2 draw away to Almeria in March.

According to Mundo Deportivo on Sunday, Ibrahimovic also demanded equal treatment with Barca idol Lionel Messi, in terms of salary and status. Instead, he ended the season on the subs' bench.

Guardiola made it clear in May that Ibrahimovic would not be first choice, by insisting on Barca signing David Villa from Valencia.

Mino Raiola, Ibrahimovic's controversial agent, saw the writing on the wall and said that 'Guardiola should go to a mental asylum if he wants to get rid of Ibra, after spending so heavily on him.'

Barca, for their part, issued an offical statement on Friday defending Guardiola against the accusations of the agent.

Online polls in Mundo Deportivo and Sport said that most Barca fans are unhappy about the money lost on the Ibrahimovic deal and that many would have liked to see the Swede continue at the Camp Nou.

However, Guardiola has such massive credit with the fans after all that he has won in two years that most fans now seem to accept that the departure of Ibrahimovic was necessary.

Besides his undebatable talent, Ibra's move confirmed his maverick nature, which led him to four transfers in seven years.

The gigantic, but incredibly agile player left Dutch side Ajax for Juventus in 2004 and moved to Inter in 2006 as the Turin side got mired into a wide corruption scandal.

What Milan fans are looking at now is his winner's attitude. Apart from one season in his three years at Ajax, he always helped his teams win national league titles.