Two of Italy’s most celebrated sides unveiled significant Swedish additions on Thursday, one signing half the age of the other.
Juventus purchased 19-year-old Dejan Kulusevski from Atalanta for $40 million on Thursday, while AC Milan introduced Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the legendary Swede passed his medical.
Kulusevski has one cap for Sweden. Ibrahimovic? 116 caps and a national record 62 goals.
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Juve will allow their teen Swede to continue his loan at Parma, where he’s scored four times with seven assists in 17 Serie A appearances this season. He’s committed to The Old Lady through 2023/24.
The winger has represented Sweden at nearly every level, rising from the U15 level all the way to his first senior team cap in November.
Only Lazio’s Luis Alberto has more league assists than Kulusevski, who is rated 18th in Serie A by WhoScored and 50th by SofaScore. The latter site says his 35 successful dribbles are tired for fifth in the league.
As for Zlatan, he’s passed his medical to rejoin AC Milan after leaving the club in 2012 to join Paris Saint-Germain.
The move, announced late last month, gives Milan much-needed center forward reinforcements. Star striker Krzysztof Piatek has just four goals in 17 league matches this season.
Ibrahimovic will wear No. 21 when he makes his Milan debut. The side restarts Serie A play on Monday morning at Sampdoria.
🗣️ @Ibra_official: "Confident, hungry and determined"
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 2, 2020
🎙️ Ibra: "Ho voglia, fame e fiducia"#IZBACK #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/nhKlOYCAd5