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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Breaks Down In Tears As He Recalls Son's Emotional Reaction Over His Return To Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Breaks Down In Tears As He Recalls Son's Emotional Reaction Over His Return To Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic cleared the air over his relationship with Janne Andersson as he said it was an "honour" to play for Sweden again.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

A tearful Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed that his son didn't want him to leave home after he made his sensational return to the Sweden national team.

The AC Milan striker has been in fine goalscoring form for the Italian club as he has scored 17 times in 23 appearances this season.

Ibrahimovic, who is Sweden's all-time record scorer, announced his retirement from international football after his country's exit from Euro 2016.

Sweden head coach Janne Andersson did not call up the 39-year-old Swedish star for the 2018 World Cup amid speculation he could make his stunning return.

But now Ibrahimovic will be included in Sweden's squad for their forthcoming 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.

The Sweden international revealed that he choked up when he asked his two sons -- 14-year-old Maximilian and 12-year-old Vincent -- about his decision to make a U-turn on his international retirement.

"Vincent cried when I left him," Ibrahimovic said at a news conference.

Ibrahimovic was visibly moved and was shedding a few tears after he recalled his son's reaction to him leaving for international duty.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United star revealed in late 2020 that he was keen to end his international retirement.

And Andersson didn't pass up the opportunity to fly out to Milan and speak to the former Sweden skipper over ending his exile.

Ibrahimovic told reporters: "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."

Speaking at the press conference, Ibrahimovic made it clear that there was no bad blood in his relationship with Andersson as he said it was an "honour" to play for his country again.

"Obviously it's not up to me, what a player wants and what a coach wants, it has to go together," he said.

"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 teammates and the whole country.

"As much as I talk here, if I don't bring results, here it means nothing."

PA

PA

PA

Sweden will kick off their World Cup qualifiers on Thursday as they host Georgia at the Friends Arena.

Andersson's side will travel to the Fadil Vokrri on 28th March for their qualifier against Kosovo.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: Football, Serie A, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan, Sweden, Italy