National team manager Stefan Pettersson is reserved when SVT Sport brings up the scrapped plans.
- Well, we talk to many countries when we plan international matches and if you find someone who feels good and that it works for both countries, you try to solve it.
Now this didn't work out and it's not strange in any way, says Pettersson.
It was precisely at the Friends Arena, which is changing its name to the Strawberry Arena this summer, that Ibrahimovic scored perhaps his most iconic goal with the bicycle kick against England for 4-2 when Sweden played its first international match at the arena in November 2012.
SvFF is looking for dates
One thought with the international match was to thank Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- An international match against Italy will probably not happen and we will of course thank Zlatan at a time that suits all parties.
When we have found that date, we will communicate it, says Pettersson.
Of the international matches that you see ahead of you, what international match could it be about?
- We will hopefully have home games in March and June and throughout the autumn and we have not decided which one it will be.
It is not just us who have to decide, but several parties are involved.
Was Zlatan disappointed when Italy couldn't come?
- I don't know that, says Pettersson.