Milan let him and Thiago Silva go for just 50m. What kind of financial trouble must they have been in? He's worth that on his own.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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You'd have to say that the leagues he's played in recently (Serie A plumbing the depths, Ligue 1 slowly rising from them) have played a part, but you simply can't argue with what he's started to do in Europe and at international level. Something like half his CL goals and half his international goals have come since he turned 29.
That video is incredible. What a collection of goals.
Big fan of Zlatan.
Big fan of Zlatan.
With a bouncing ball, there aren't many better.
I agree with it, the leagues (and therefore the space allowed) played an important role in him improving certain aspect of his game.
What's this " the leagues he's played in" arguement? It's silly that many fans only use games against English sides as a barometer of a player's quality. What about the other 35+ games a season in which he is world class? He's a class player and he'd be prolific in the BPL. As for his time at Barca he had a good start there scoring and creating goals. The problems started when he was asked to go into the wide areas to accommodate Messi. He's not a Suarez or Aguero who can drift, he plays his best football upfront or in the 10 role. If anything Guardiola/DOF should be be blamed for spending a record fee on a striker who didn't fit with the club's philosophy. He's been great for at least 7 years now. His Inter Milan highlight reel alone would put most footballers to shame.
Can't speak for everyone else but the games against English sides were the one in which I was most likely to watch him play a full 90 minutes. Not everyone has the time or dedication to watch entire games from all of Europe's top leagues every week. It's quite nice to have a life outside watching football.
You hit the nailed right on its head with your second paragraph. Watching him over a season isn't something the majority of fans will do, for various reasons, so what we get is one side saying his world class after watching him destroy teams and other saying he's overrated because he can't carry his team against top-class teams.
The problem with disregarding Ibrahimovic because of the leagues he's played in is that the same line of reasoning can be used against Cantona, Bergkamp, Henry etc. They never carried their teams to CL glory, nor did they do much outside the Premier League, which wasn't the world's strongest at the time.
I will continue to believe that his time at Barcelona had some lasting impact on him as a player/teammate. Plus, his time at the club, I saw an outstanding player with a skill level that I've seen few other players possess - regardless of size
I wonder if he will ever leave PSG & make it to the Premiership because you'd really have to watch him week to week to appreciate how skilled he is rather than the odd highlight or match. Of course, the older he gets, the motivation invariably will dwindle but you'd be sure to enjoy his play
Could have done with joining you a couple of seasons later, he has definitely reached another level these past couple of seasons imo, much like Suarez's improvement this year to last.
I actually think it was the experience at Barcelona that changed him so later wouldn't have changed anything...His immaturity has cost him at different times in his career but he's a better teammate/player since that season under Pep
Yeah maybe actually. If he had displayed his current performance level at Barca he'd probably go down as a club great.
Zlatan's reaction to getting nutmegged.
Zlatan: I'd have destroyed the PL of I had moved there....
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes that if he had ever moved to the Premier League he would have “destroyed it”.
Ibrahimovic famously rejected a trial at Arsenal back in 2000 because, well, Zlatan “does not do auditions”, and his incredible levels of self-belief were evident once again as he discussed the Premier League.
The Swede, 32, was quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying: “England is a very strong league, with three or four of the best teams in Europe – but, if I had played there, I would have destroyed it, like I have everywhere else.
“Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
Having elected not to take the trial, he signed for Ajax before playing for a host of top European clubs, including Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, Barcelona and PSG.
However, despite winning a league championship in Holland, Spain, Italy and France as well as a host of personal accolades, his credentials are, at times, not fully appreciated on British shores.
“I’m always amused when I am asked about not having tested myself in England," added the Swedish captain.
“The last time I faced England, which is supposed to be the best players in the Premier League, what happened?
For those unaware, Zlatan hit England for four back in November 2012 when Roy Hodgson’s men travelled to Stockholm's Friends Arena.
“Maybe people need to be reminded that it was the Zlatan show.”
No link - found this gem on Eurosport app.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes that if he had ever moved to the Premier League he would have “destroyed it”.
Ibrahimovic famously rejected a trial at Arsenal back in 2000 because, well, Zlatan “does not do auditions”, and his incredible levels of self-belief were evident once again as he discussed the Premier League.
The Swede, 32, was quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying: “England is a very strong league, with three or four of the best teams in Europe – but, if I had played there, I would have destroyed it, like I have everywhere else.
“Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
Having elected not to take the trial, he signed for Ajax before playing for a host of top European clubs, including Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, Barcelona and PSG.
However, despite winning a league championship in Holland, Spain, Italy and France as well as a host of personal accolades, his credentials are, at times, not fully appreciated on British shores.
“I’m always amused when I am asked about not having tested myself in England," added the Swedish captain.
“The last time I faced England, which is supposed to be the best players in the Premier League, what happened?
For those unaware, Zlatan hit England for four back in November 2012 when Roy Hodgson’s men travelled to Stockholm's Friends Arena.
“Maybe people need to be reminded that it was the Zlatan show.”
No link - found this gem on Eurosport app.
I happen to agree with him, he'd have been amazing in the PL where he would be allowed to truly display his physicality.
He still has time and a few years left in him to move to the premier league and put those words in to action.
That's brilliant.I love this 
"Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
"Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
Though, it's a bit silly. Best players of PL in England team? Rooney...ummm, dunno, Wilshere?
Love it how he always refers to himself as Zlatan
unless he is joining us, i hope we will never see him in the PL. even at 32 33 he will destroy defenses. i know we had a history of keeping him quite a few times but still...
There are times where you can't help but love the man. His recent dare to Zlatan tweets have been brilliant too. Especially the 'Zlatan fears no one, and neither should you. Except Zlatan'.
I'd nearly take him over Messi or Ronaldo at United. Stunning goals, amazing skill and a charisma we're lacking at the moment.
He's quite a character with the ability to back it up, football needs more of his
Scored a hat trick today btw
It annoys me that so many idiots don't understand he's an incredibly funny wum. That thing he said about the World Cup being worthless without him caused outrage in almost everyone I know around here.
In the meanwhile, in his thread in the transfer forum:
In the meanwhile, in his thread in the transfer forum:
I love this
"Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
Another fake interview
Ligue 1, Top scorers:
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 22
2. Edison Cavani - 13
3. Alexandre Lacazette - 13
Top assists:
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 9
2. James Rodriguez - 9
3. Lucas Moura - 8
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 22
2. Edison Cavani - 13
3. Alexandre Lacazette - 13
Top assists:
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 9
2. James Rodriguez - 9
3. Lucas Moura - 8
Reporter: So now you have two days off?
Zlatan: No! I have three, the rest have two.
That's excellent!
Zlatan, what a man.
True, no one should be expected to make a judgement on him only on the condition that they watch all his Ligue 1 games. The problem is that most of the said people that only watch him 1 or 2 times a year (when he plays an English side in the CL) do not acknowledge that they don't watch him enough to make a sound judgement on the issue.
What a pass
He's so fecking good
Zlatan is just fantastic, wish he was with us!
He just makes it look so easy as well.
Any chance he'll ever come to England? I don't know what his relationship with Jose is like.
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