Zlatan spirit intoxicates Juve

By Paolo Menicucci

On 26 August when the draw for the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League placed Juventus FC and AFC Ajax in Group C, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was still playing for the Dutch champions. However, the Swedish forward will be facing his old team-mates in a Bianconeri shirt at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday.

Amsterdam comeback
Five days after the draw, Juventus signed Ibrahimovic for €16m and now the 22-year-old is ready to make his Champions League debut with his new club in the stadium where he played after joining Ajax from Malmö FF in 2001.

Difficulty period
Just before moving to Turin, Ibrahimovic had some difficult days at Ajax following a couple of crude challenges on club colleagues during Sweden's friendly against the Netherlands, one of which sidelined the Ajax captain Rafael van der Vaart with an ankle injury.

Footballing hotbed
However, the forward has only kind words for his old club ahead of the game on Wednesday. "Ajax helped me grow, but I felt I was ready for a really big team and so I chose Juventus," Ibrahimovic said. "However if I score on Wednesday, I won't celebrate. I still have a lot of respect for my old supporters and team-mates.

New team-mates
"Ajax are a well-organised side and they can keep good ball possession," continued Ibrahimovic, who scored a memorable goal against Italy at UEFA EURO 2004™, beating his new team-mate Gianluigi Buffon with a wonderful back-heeled flick. "Juve have more experience and I believe we are also better man for man."

Maxwell warning
Ibrahimovic is expected to start from the substitutes' bench and come on during the second half for Alessandro Del Piero or David Trezeguet. However, he has plenty of advice for his colleagues in the starting lineup. "Maxwell is their most dangerous player," he warned. "I believe he's ready for a top European club."

Debut goal
Last Sunday the striker made a brilliant start to his Serie A career, coming off the bench to score in the 3-0 victory against Brescia Calcio. "It was fantastic to score my first goal but I know that I can play much better once I adapt to my new team," he said. "I consider myself a winner and I want to win either the Scudetto or Champions League."

Capello happy
Juventus coach Fabio Capello is also more than satisfied with Ibrahimovic's debut. "He scored a great goal," said Capello. "We knew he was a great player when we signed him and it's good he came to Italy. Not only for Juventus but for Italian football in general. He has already proved that he can adapt well to our team."

Praise from Nedved
Ibrahimovic's team-mate Pavel Nedved is also sure that the Swedish player will be able to have a great impact in Serie A. "We just need to give him some time to get to know his new team and the league better, and he will prove how good he is," said the Czech international. "We have signed an outstanding player."

Improbable start
Should he score against Ajax in his first Champions League game, after his dream Serie A debut, Ibrahimovic could become a crowd favourite at the Delle Alpi in record time.