According to reports in Swedish media relayed by Sky Sport, Zlatan Ibrahimović could be set to make a return to his national team, five years after his international retirement.
Although no official announcement has been made as of yet, Swedish website fotbolldirekt.se report that the Milan forward will receive a call-up to take part in his country’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Georgia, at the end of the month.
Ibrahimović had commented last November that he was “missing” the national team, while on Satursday a spokesman for the Swedish FA added that talks were ongoing with the talismanic striker – with the squad list for the qualifiers set to be released on March 16.
Sweden manager Janne Andersson also spoke in November regarding the possibility of a return for the forward, indicating that “he should be the one to tell us if he wants to return. In that case, it will be up to be to manage the situation.”
“It’s necessary for him to want to play a part in the national team’s project. In 2016 he told me clearly that he didn’t want to be a part of it anymore, so I respected his choice over the years.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised [by his form at Milan]. If I was, it would mean I didn’t believe in his abilities. I’ve been impressed, I’m struck by the fact that Zlatan can still have this hunger, this drive and this quality in what he does. He is by far our greatest ever player.”
In the same month, Ibrahimović had posted a picture of himself captaining the national team, along with the caption “Long time no see”.
