Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacted in typical Ibrahimovic fashion to a question about Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku.
Ibrahimovic was asked by Sky Sports Italia whether he had a message for Lukaku ahead of the pair’s potential meeting in the Italian Super Cup in January.
Inter and AC Milan have a derby on the horizon when club football resumes after the World Cup.
The ancient rivals have already played out an enthralling encounter once this season.
A brace from Rafael Leao accompanied Olivier Giroud’s second-half strike ensured the bragging rights belonged to Milan in September.
No love loss between Lukaku and Zlatan
Inter will be after revenge in the cup after the New Year, with Lukaku more than most hoping to inflict damage on his adversaries.
The striker hasn’t faced the Rossoneri since scoring and assisting in the 3-0 league victory last February.
His previous appearance in the derby was the 2-1 Italian Cup win in January, a fixture he again grabbed a goal in.
It was on the day that the Belgian and Ibrahimovic literally locked-horns, as the two experienced forwards shared some rather unsavoury words with each other.
Nearly exactly 12 months on from the personal duel, the pair are set to be reunited in the cauldron in the Derby della Madonnina.
“No, I don’t have any messages for him. I hope he’s fine and can be on the pitch, as I hope for me,” said Ibrahimovic when offered the chance to send a message to Lukaku.
“In the end what we want is to be on the pitch and play football, even if it’s difficult. But I don’t have any messages, I wish him the best.
“Thinking about him is not my goal, I like thinking about myself. When I’m fine, others are afraid.”
Romelu Lukaku versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Milan’s veteran attacker is in a race to be fit for the historic fixture, as he recovers from knee surgery.
Meanwhile, Lukaku is only just back on his feet after sustaining thigh problem in October.
He was a major doubt for the World Cup, yet still boarded the Belgium plane to Qatar.
Chelsea’s record-signing played less than half an hour at the competition, including a disastrous 45 minutes against Croatia.
Squander the same number of chances as he did at the tournament versus Milan, and it will be Ibrahimovic having the last laugh this time.
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