AC Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has addressed the swirling rumors linking Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford with a potential move to the Italian giants this month.

In a surprising interview last month, Rashford hinted that his time at boyhood club United could be coming to an end, telling respected journalist Henry Winter that he was ready for a new challenge. Following this revelation, speculation about his future intensified, with several top European clubs reportedly interested, and AC Milan emerging as a leading contender for his signature.

Now, Ibrahimovic, a club icon and recently appointed Senior Advisor to AC Milan’s Ownership and Senior Management under Redbird Capital Partners, has weighed in on the situation. His new role positions him to play a significant part in any transfer negotiations involving his former United teammate.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ibrahimovic shared his thoughts: “Rashford? I know him well, having played with him when he was young. He accomplished great things at Manchester and remains one of their key players. Everyone dreams of playing for AC Milan, one of the biggest clubs in the world. It’s a complicated deal, though—we haven’t spoken to him yet, but we’ll see.”

Milan’s new manager, Sergio Conceição, who has gained immense popularity among fans after winning the Italian Super Cup with victories over Juventus and Inter Milan, echoed Ibrahimovic’s sentiments. Despite expressing frustration over the persistent rumors, Conceição didn’t dismiss the possibility of Rashford joining Milan.

“In Portugal, it’s even worse with these rumors. Here, we focus on football, and occasionally someone stirs things up,” Conceição remarked. “Rashford is a talented player, like many others. Some are available, some are not. We’ll see what happens.”

While both Ibrahimovic and Conceição remained reserved about the likelihood of a deal, recent reports suggest that Rashford’s departure from United could be imminent, with AC Milan standing out as his most likely destination.