Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hinted he'd take the return of AC Milan teammate Antonio Cassano over signing Manchester City's Carlos Tevez.

While the Swede rates the Argentine international, he has outlined just how important Cassano is to the team and himself.

"Tevez is a great player, an ace, " the former Juventus and Inter striker told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"However, we miss Cassano. Without Antonio on the pitch we have to play in a different way and I have to sacrifice myself much more."