Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new book, Adrenaline: My Untold Stories, has reignited his fiery rivalry with Romelu Lukaku, which is set to resume this season after the Belgian returned to Inter Milan on loan. The feud dates back to their time at Manchester United and escalated during the 2020-21 campaign in Serie A.
Ibrahimovic, who plays for AC Milan, recounts a heated exchange during last January's Coppa Italia quarter-final. After Lukaku argued with a Milan midfielder, Ibrahimovic intervened. When Lukaku challenged him, Ibrahimovic threatened to break every bone in his body. The Swede then taunted Lukaku about a voodoo spell, referencing a long-standing rumour about the Belgian's mother.
Lukaku allegedly responded by threatening to put three bullets in Ibrahimovic's head. The incident ended without physical violence, but Ibrahimovic was sent off later in the match. Inter won 2-1, with Lukaku scoring the equaliser. In May, Inter won the Serie A title, prompting Lukaku to tweet: 'The real god has crowned the king. Now bow down.'
Ibrahimovic, sidelined until January with a knee injury, has vowed revenge. He draws parallels to his feud with Marco Materazzi, whom he elbowed in a 2010 derby, resulting in Materazzi being hospitalised. 'You never forget and you wait patiently for the right time to take revenge,' Ibrahimovic wrote.
The next Milan derby is scheduled for early February, setting the stage for a renewed clash between the two strikers. Both players have extended their stays in Milan, ensuring the feud will continue to capture attention in Serie A.
