Ibra and Padel: “I really enjoy playing”. The champion in the stands with Luigi Carraro and Nasser Al-Khelaifi for the semifinal

He arrived while the semifinals were taking place on the court and immediately became the other major protagonist of Milano Premier Padel P1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic showed up at Allianz Cloud on an afternoon of great padel, greeting the players and kindly allowing autographs and selfies. Then, a chat and the customary photos with Alejandro Galan, who had just won his match against Navarro and Chingotto.

“I’m here because I enjoy playing padel, it’s a sport I really like”, says Ibra after responding with gestures of appreciation to the cheers from the spectators in the stands. “I have been a fan for a long time, eight years ago I started playing and opening clubs (‘Padel Zenter’) first in Sweden and then here in Italy, in Segrate. I want to give everyone the opportunity to try padel and enjoy it”. Ibra explains why he believes padel is spreading rapidly: “It’s a fun sport, you don’t need to be professionals or even good. In this, tennis is a bit too difficult: if you can’t play, it’s not easy to appreciate it, while in padel, you have fun even if you’re not good”.

Many other footballers try their hand at the “pala” with excellent results. So, is it true that those who have played football have an advantage? Ibra jokes: “I can play the ball off the glass. I lack the technique, I rely more on physicality, but rest assured, Zlatan is working on it”. Then, a stroll on the Allianz Cloud court with the president of the International Padel Federation, Luigi Carraro, the customary photos with Carraro and with his former president during his time at PSG and the president of Premier Padel, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, with whom he engaged in smiles and a few words. Finally, all together in the VIP stands to watch the spectacle of the super semifinal of Milano Premier Padel P1 between Coello-Tapia and Stupaczuk-Di Nenno.