AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not want to leave the club back in 2012 after the Swedish striker rejoined the Italian side on a short-term deal this week.
Milan announced the return of Ibrahimovic on Friday with the 38-year-old completing a free transfer after the expiration of his LA Galaxy deal.
The forward scored 56 goals in 85 appearances for the club between 2010 and 2012 and Galliani says he was not happy to be sold to Paris Saint-Germain.
'Ibra certainly did not want to leave Milan. He was sold to balance the books,' Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport of the 2012 sale to PSG.
'He has always been the one to decide his destiny, except on that occasion. Together we won the Scudetto his first year, the last for Milan before Juventus started their record-breaking run, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2011.
'In January 2012, it was all done for Alexandre Pato to join PSG and we'd bring Carlos Tevez in from Manchester City. What a dream pairing, Ibra-Tevez!
'The whole deal fell apart and who knows what could've happened? I think we would've continued winning, as at that time we were still in front of Juve. History changed, Milan finished second and in the summer of 2012, the old guard moved on.'
Galliani also revealed just how badly Ibrahimovic took the forced transfer to France, along with Thiago Silva.
'He wasn't talking to me for a while. Once he got over the disappointment of having to leave Milan, he gave an interview in which he spoke highly of me and our relationship.'
With medical staff monitoring his fitness, Ibrahimovic is expected to make his second debut against SPAL on January 15.