Asked how his career as an executive is going, Ibrahimovic said the transition from the pitch to the boardroom has been a deliberate step rather than a retirement, in comments made alongside Cardinale at the WSJ Sports Event on July 16 and reported by Milannews.
"It's going well. I'm in good hands: Cardinale promised me I'll become a billionaire. It's a new part of my career: I have the opportunity to work for RedBird and I'm surrounded by great people. I feel humble in this situation. It was something I wanted to explore, to take another step and not just be the ex-professional athlete who spends his time training to stay in shape.
"I wanted to take a new step in my career in the business world. Every day I see numbers upon numbers. I feel very humble, I want to learn, I want to grow in this world and I'm grateful for this opportunity," he said.
On what Cardinale asks of him, Ibrahimovic said the request was to bring the same mentality from his playing days into a boardroom setting.
"He wants me to be the Zlatan I was on the pitch but in a business context, without changing. What I noticed when I retired, when I started working in an office, is that it works like a dressing room: there's a leader that other people follow and who sets the bar, who dictates the mentality. That's what I'd like to bring: to be myself but be the leader, to get people to follow me," he said.
Asked about the biggest lesson he has passed on to Cardinale, Ibrahimovic pointed to composure under pressure.
"Stay calm, don't let yourself be overwhelmed by emotions, because when you make decisions driven by emotion you make mistakes. Gerry is learning the hard way because a lot has happened since he arrived at Milan. Every country has its own way of working, and in Italy it's very particular. He's gaining experience by taking the harder path, because he isn't fully enjoying Milan yet: you can enjoy it when you win.
"Step by step he'll enjoy it more and more, and he'll get to the win. European football is different from American sports because in Europe everyone thinks they have the answers until the weight of responsibility falls on them, and when that happens they panic. He has to be strong, patient," he said.
On the advice he continues to give Cardinale, Ibrahimovic said building an authentic identity mattered more than imitating others.
"I always tell him he has to create Milan's identity in his own image, so he can face challenges representing himself and not someone he isn't. Right now he's building his culture with Milan, and from there he can grow, knowing failure is part of success.
"If everything were perfect from the start he wouldn't have learned anything. I've played for three of the five biggest clubs in the world, and AC Milan is one of them, we have 650 million fans worldwide. I don't choose the team on Saturdays, but there are 650 million fans around the world who do. Gerry will get there, I'm 100 percent sure: he has the will and the character to make it, if he managed to bring me to RedBird he can do anything, don't worry," Ibrahimovic said.