Ibrahimovic admits taunting Romelu Lukaku over his mum’s ‘voodoo rituals,’ says he asked his religious friends to pray for him against bad luck after their clash

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has finally opened up on his on-field bust-up with Romelu Lukaku in a San Siro derby back in January.

The two teams met in the Coppa Italia and nearly came to blows in the first half of their quarter-final clash. They squared up and clashed heads, with Lukaku later chasing Ibrahimovic down the tunnel claiming the Swede had made a remark about his mother.

Ibrahimovic, who was sent off in the game, later denied making any racially aggravated remarks towards Lukaku.

However, according to Football Italia, Ibrahimovic has finally admitted taunting him over his mother’s alleged ‘voodoo rituals’.

‘He first argued with [Alessio] Romagnoli, then with [Alexis] Saelemaekers,’ Ibrahimovic said.

‘I intervened to defend my teammates and Lukaku attacked me on a personal level. I was shocked. We even were teammates at Manchester United.

‘Lukaku has a great ego, he thinks he’s a champion and he’s really strong. But I grew up in the Malmo ghetto, and when someone comes under me with his head down, I put him in his place. 

And, as Ibrahimovic admits, he targeted him with a taunt about the alleged ‘voodoo rituals’ of his mother on the pitch. 

”So, I hit him in his sweet spot: his Mum’s rituals. And he lost control,’ Ibrahimovic said.

‘Although, I still have a terrible doubt… we lost that derby. I was sent off. Then I got injured. A lot of bad things happened. You’ll see that the Lukaku rituals really got me?

‘I asked my believing friends to pray for me. I have to settle the bill with him too. I hope to meet him soon. On the street? No, these are things that must be resolved on the pitch. I don’t hate anyone, much less Lukaku.’ 

Ibrahimovic was heard on camera telling Lukaku go do your voodoo s***’ which appeared to reference a story once told by Everton shareholder Farhad Moshiri. 

He claimed that Lukaku turned down a new contract with the club because of a voodoo message he got after speaking to his mother telling him to go to Chelsea.

Lukaku has always denied the story. A representative of his told BBC Sport in response to Moshiri’s claims: ‘Romelu’s decision had nothing to do with voodoo. 

‘He distances himself from these beliefs and this statement and will now see what judicial steps can be taken in relation to them.’