What started out as a joke quickly became reality for AC Milan as they prised Leonardo Bonucci away from Italian champions Juventus, according to director Massimiliano Mirabelli.
Milan have been busy overhauling their squad but Vincenzo Montella's men stunned the world when they managed to sign Serie A-winning defender Bonucci for €42million last month.
Mirabelli admitted Milan – bankrolled by new Chinese owners – did not plan to sign the 30-year-old centre-back.
"Bonucci's transfer wasn't planned, but it was an opportunity we had to grab as it went past," he Rai Sport.
"I was talking to [agent Alessandr] Lucci about other players and he kept making jokes about Bonucci. Over the first few days, I didn't even tell [CEO Marco] Fassone.
"Then I saw the lad really did want to come to Milan and we worked out the negotiations very quickly."
Asked about the possible return of Ibrahimovic or Aubameyang, Mirabelli said: "We'll look at what is out there and you never know in life.
"A few old faces may well return, but I do not intend to allude to Ibrahimovic. We're keeping our feet on the ground and evaluating the situation."
