Zlatan Ibrahimovic

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has defended his controversial appearance at Italy's Sanremo music festival and reiterated his belief that athletes like Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James should stay out of politics.

The 39-year-old Swede has received criticism for agreeing to participate in four nights of the annual song contest in Liguria this week, as his club have Serie A fixtures on Wednesday and Sunday.

Shut up and dribble or dribble and raise up?

Earlier this week, Zlatan Ibrahimović essentially told Lakers star LeBron James to shut up and dribble. On Friday night, the four-time NBA champion said he’ll never shut up about inequality, social justice, racism and voter suppression — and he also called out Ibrahimović for hypocrisy. 

As a refresher, here’s what Zlatan said about James.

Seven-time European champions AC Milan will play Manchester United in the standout tie of next month's Europa League round of 16 following Friday's draw.

Ajax Amsterdam, the four-time European champions, will take on Swiss club Young Boys, while Arsenal face Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus and Tottenham Hotspur, the third English club to reach the last 16, will tackle Dinamo Zagreb.

Round of 16 draw!

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said sportspeople like Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James should quit sticking their nose into politics.

Four-time NBA champion James, who Ibrahimovic described as a phenomenal basketball player, has been one of the NBA's leading voices against racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S.

A frequent critic of former U.S. President Donald Trump, James also helped form a group aimed at battling voter disenfranchisement in predominantly Black communities last year.

Angeliño, RB Leipzig's 24-year-old left back, has enjoyed the strongest season of his career so far. While his attacking talent has always been a strength, he has taken things up a notch this campaign with eight goals and 11 assists in 31 games. 

The Spaniard, who had been on loan in the Bundesliga since January 2020, made his move to Leipzig permanent this month on a $23 million deal that will become official in the summer.

ROME - Ten years have come and gone since a Milan Derby in Serie A mattered this much.

When the two storied Italian clubs go head to head at San Siro on Sunday, it will be the first time since April 2, 2011 that the fixture represents a clash between the league’s top two teams. The 2010-11 season proved to be the end of an era for football in the city. Milan lifted the title to halt Inter’s five-year Scudetto stranglehold, but Inter were consoled with a Coppa Italia triumph. Neither club has won either competition since.

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli labelled Zlatan Ibrahimović a champion who continues to surprise him after the 39-year-old striker produced another stellar performance in Milan's 2-0 win at Cagliari on Monday.

Injury has deprived Milan of Ibrahimović's services for much of the season but when he has started, the goals have flowed to help Pioli's team climb to the top of the Serie A standings.