JAKARTA - Tricky conditions that plagued two Seria A clubs; AC Milan and Fiorentina made their former players open their voices. Manuel Rui Costa, who has played at the two clubs, believes his former team will achieve objective results at the end of the season.
Rui Costa played alongside Stefano Pioli at Fiorentina in the 1990s. He believes the Milan coach has the quality to bring the Rossoneri back to Europe.
"I love Stefano and I owe him a lot," the Portugal icon told Corriere dello Sport. Launch of Italian Football, Monday, December 30.
"The year I arrived in Florence, everything was really new for me and I decided to live near where he lived.
"He is not only a teammate but also a friend who has helped me in many situations. I have great respect and admiration for him, as a coach and as a person.
"I wish him all the best. I am sure he will revive Milan."
Meanwhile, Giuseppe Iachini has just taken over from Vincenzo Montella Fiorentina. Iachini is a former Viola player from 1989-1994.
"We didn't play together because he left the same summer I signed for Fiorentina.
"However, I was lucky enough to know him and really appreciate him. He is a person who transmits great energy and is used to achieve goals.
"There is still a long way to go this season, both for Milan and Fiorentina: the Viola will finish in a quiet position and the Rossoneri will qualify for Europe."
Finally, the Benfica director hopes that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has just been recruited by Milan, will repeat his best years in his second term with Il Diavolo.
“Ibra is Ibra. Age doesn't matter to him, even at 38, and we'll soon see how he's still in the right shape.
"A star like him can make a difference. Milan needs someone like Zlatan because he can drag his team-mates.
“He decided to come to Milan for reasons other than money. And if someone like him cares then the club has made a good deal. "
Ibrahimovic first played for Milan in the 2010-2012 period. With 85 matches and 56 goals in all competitions, he managed to donate the 2010-2011 Scudetto and the 2011-2012 Supercoppa Italiana.
AC Milan will bind Ibrahimovic on a 6-month contract with an option to extend for one year. The Swedish players will test the media on January 2.
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