Zlatan to return

The Internazionale ace was thrown out of the Sweden squad last year after he, Olof Mellberg and Christian Wilhelmsson broke a curfew ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

Zlatan publicly criticised Lagerback afterwards and was subsequently left out once again for a friendly against Ivory Coast in November. He has since refused recalls to the squad, but is now willing to return, if only out of respect for his fans.

"Last October he sent me home because I was one hour late for the national team gathering. I wasn't drunk and I hadn't done anything stupid," Ibrahimovic told Italian newspaper Libero.

"A week later he calls me and says, "okay, let's just forget about all this". Let bygones be bygones? No way in hell.

"I am back to play in the Euro qualifiers, but only for the people and the kids in Sweden who love me".

Ibrahimovic underwent surgery on a niggling groin problem once Inter's title win was already sealed in April, but is hopeful that he will have recovered in time to play in June's Group F matches.

"I am getting better, but I need time. I am going on holiday, maybe to the Maldives, but first I will play two Euro qualification games for Sweden."

Lagerback was quick to respond to Ibrahimovic's comments, although the coach was not overly concerned by the story.

"This is not a big deal," he said. "I won't comment on what the newspapers say, I haven't read the interview but Zlatan has been misquoted before and sometimes articles can have a certain angle".

"I speak with Zlatan regularly, we know where we're standing. There's no reason for me to comment on all of this as long as he hasn't said anything directly to me. We live in a democracy where people can say what they want and newspapers write what they want".