Zlatan Ibrahimovic has denied allegations that he racially abused Romelu Lukaku in Tuesday’s Milan derby.
The former Manchester United team-mates found themselves in a heated exchange as Lukaku’s Inter Milan overcame Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan 2-1 in the first leg of the rivals’ Coppa Italia quarter-final clash.
Ibrahimovic opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark before Lukaku equalised from the spot on 71 minutes. Christian Eriksen then netted the winner in the seventh minute of added time.
Inter’s two goals came after Ibrahimovic had been sent off in the 58th minute when he received a second yellow card for a foul during an Inter break.
The Swede’s first yellow card came on the stroke of half-time for his involvement in the exchange with Lukaku, who was also booked.
And, after some observers alleged that Ibrahimovic had used racially-charged terms during the confrontation with his fellow striker, the 39-year-old took to social media to deny such suggestions.
“In ZLATAN’s world there is no place for RACISM,” Ibrahimovic wrote on Twitter.
“We are all the same race - we are all equal !!
“We are all PLAYERS some better [than] others.”
The striker added on Instagram, “We are ONE.”
Lukaku and Ibrahimovic were Man United team-mates between 2017 and 2018, with the Belgium international leaving for Inter ahead of the 2019/20 season – one year after Ibrahimovic signed for MLS franchise LA Galaxy.
Ibrahimovic then rejoined AC Milan last year, having previously represented the Serie A outfit between 2010 and 2012.
