Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-39522398-20190519202509/@comment-29325824-20190520062159

NicKnack, did you even read the manga? The Old Man is explicitly stated (by himself) to be the manifestation of Ichigo's Quincy powers. "Hollow Ichigo" is also then confirmed to be the real Zangetsu.

Which, TBH, was foreshadowed a lot.