Without a doubt, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have marked his time with his game, his character and his shocking phrases. At 38, the Swedish giant has launched yet another challenge, returning to AC Milan, in "the city [he] loves". Wearing the Rossoneri jersey again (after 2010-2012), which he should show again this Monday against Sampdoria, marks the tenth episode of the Zlatan saga. It had started in the last century…
Malmö (1999-2001): the advent of a disadvantaged child
In 1996, a 15-year-old boy named Zlatan joined the Malmö FF training center in Sweden. For this teenager, football is like a getaway, he who had a difficult childhood. Idolizing the Brazilian Ronaldo, the young Zlatan Ibrahimovic persevered in football and became a professional in 1999.
After a first season marked by a descent, the young man won at the forefront of the attack. Shirt struck with number 27, the Swede, with an imposing physique already, plants 12 goals in 26 games. If his team goes back to the first division, he is no stranger to this success. Powerful but already very skilful, Zlatan begins to envy Europe. And even still baby, he already drops a few striking sentences: "Remember my name. My name is Zlatan Ibrahimovic and I will become the best player in the world. "
His stats with Malmö: 16 goals in 40 games
Ajax Amsterdam (2001-2004): the launching pad
Arsenal, then trained by Arsène Wenger, showed interest in 2000. The French technician, wanting to judge Ibra's abilities, wanted to summon him. Except that: "No way. Zlatan does not pass a test. The answer is scathing from the 19-year-old. A year later, he went to Ajax Amsterdam. Quickly, the striker takes his marks and saves playing time. It is under the tutelage of Ronald Koeman that Ibrahimovic will show the extent of his potential. In two seasons, he will score 36 goals in 73 games. Including this mythical one:
At Ajax, Zlatan won its first national titles (2002 and 2004) and also launched its history with the Swedish selection and with the Champions League. His first match in C1 takes place against Olympique Lyonnais in September 2002. The French club is the first to suffer the wrath of the young striker, who offers victory to his own by a double (2-1).
Talented, Zlatan also highlights his oversized ego. The competition is exacerbated with Rafael Van der Vaart, his teammate, to show who is the best. This rivalry will be at its height during an international match. On an action, the Swede crushes the ankle of the Dutchman and continues the action which leads to a goal. Ibra will not apologize…
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His stats with Ajax: 48 goals in 110 games
Juventus Turin (2004-2006): a mixed experience
In 2004, the Swede reached a new level by joining Juventus Turin for 16 million euros. In the ranks of the Old Lady, big names in football: Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Pavel Nedved ... Ibra takes advantage of the injuries of a Frenchman, David Trezeguet, to make his nest. In a championship much higher than that of the Netherlands, the right-hander adapts well with 16 goals in 35 games. The second season is less prolific with only 7 goals, due to a lower position on the field.
"He is one of the players with Zidane or Del Piero who impressed me technically," said David Trezeguet in 2016. In an interview with "So Foot", his former teammate Mauro Camoranesi assured: "There were many very good players, but no one was above the group. At Juve, Ibrahimovic was just one player among the rest. Zlatan will leave in 2006, when the club is relegated to the match-fixing affair, after a standoff. The two titles of Italian champion gleaned (2005 and 2006) will then be canceled.
Juve stats: 26 goals in 92 games
Inter Milan (2006-2009): a show of force
“Since childhood, I have always said that Inter was my favorite team in Italy. During his presentation to the press, Zlatan places a small tackle on Juventus, which will earn him reprisals from bianconeri supporters. This does not disturb the 24-year-old giant. As in the past, he quickly becomes a major element of his new team. He steals the show from star Adriano, in distress.
First 15, then 17, and finally 25, his number of league goals is constantly increasing. During his three seasons at the Internazionale, Ibra raises the champion trophy each time. In 2008 and 2009, he was also voted best player of the season in Serie A. On the other hand, the brilliant striker was less sharp on the European scene. The Champions League is still closed to the Swede.
Inter's stats: 66 goals in 117 games
FC Barcelona (2009-2010): a transplant that does not take
One of the top scorers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic attracts European cadors. And FC Barcelona puts the means to engage the international: 43 million euros + Samuel Eto'o sent to Inter. It was the biggest transfer in the history of Barça. Zlatan is worth it. His beginnings with the Catalan club, where Lionel Messi excels, are brilliant. Five achievements in the first five league games, the goal of victory in his first Clasico against Real Madrid ... Everything seems to be going well. But, however, the transplant does not take.
The Swedish style of play does not suit the philosophy of Pep Guardiola. On the one hand, a free electron with great power, on the other, a game made of passes and movements. "I said to Guardiola: I am a Ferrari, but you drive me like I am a Fiat, " he says. In addition, Zlatan struggles to find its mark outside the field, staying away from the strong men of Barça (Messi, Xavi, Iniesta). Despite several titles (Liga, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup) but still no Champions League, his passage is a failure. After a year, he returned to Italy, loaned to Milan.
His stats at Barça: 22 goals in 46 games
AC Milan (2010-2012): the perfect rebound
Back in the championship he loves, Ibra discovers a third team. After Juventus and Inter, here he is in the ranks of AC Milan, following a loan with a purchase obligation to 24 million euros. The Rossoneri smelled the right move, recovering the Swedish at low cost. Zlatan has revived his career, and even with the status of a former Inter player, he was adored by fans.
On the field, alongside Thiago Silva, Clarence Seedorf or Ronaldinho, the 29-year-old player blends perfectly with the collective. He finds his bearings in Serie A and becomes decisive again. With 14 goals and 14 assists, he helped the Milanese win the championship, the first in seven years. He exploded statistics in his second season with 33 goals in 28 Calcio games. With seven national champion titles (nine including the two withdrawn from Juve), Ibra extended his list of achievements. But it does not develop on a continental scale.
His stats in Milan: 56 goals in 85 games
PSG (2012-2016): it zlatan Ligue 1
In 2012, the Swedish giant settled down in the French capital. PSG is supported by a new project, thanks to the investment of a Qatari fund. The club's goal: the Champions League. That's good, it's the same as Zlatan. However, much later, he will confide that he had left for PSG "without his agreement".
Very quickly, the striker made some shocking sentences: "I don't know much about Ligue 1, but Ligue 1 knows who I am" or "I am going to live in the Eiffel Tower and go to parachute training. Zlatan quickly treats the French audience of his class, of his sublime goals. It becomes a phenomenon in France, so much so that a verb is invented: "zlataner".
🎁🎇 Back to the most popular videos of 2019.
Today: the cannonball of @ Ibra_official with the @PSG_inside 💣🇸🇪🎉 # LdC #UCL pic.twitter.com/8HY3fnnKG0
Well above the lot, PSG won the Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue during the four years of Ibra. Throughout his Paris episode, Zlatan has been spilling ink as when he attacks referees: "I've been playing football for fifteen years and I have never seen such a poor referee in this country shit. This country does not deserve PSG. Creating controversy, he had to apologize soon after.
But Zlatan Ibrahimovic will once again miss his European quest. The Swede has never been able to take his team further than the quarter-finals. In 2016, he left PSG, with the tact that he is known for: “I arrived like a king, I leave like a legend. "
My last game tomorrow at Parc des Princes. I came like a king, left like a legend pic.twitter.com/OpLL3wzKh0
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) May 13, 2016His stats in Paris: 156 goals in 180 games
Manchester United (2016-2018): success then injury
Zlatan goes off to discover a fourth major European Championship, joining Manchester United and England. The Red Devils see the Swede and José Mourinho, recruited on the bench, the duo capable of reviving them. Because since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, the Mancunians have been going through a delicate transition. Ibra's contribution is quickly effective. At 33, Zlatan still enjoys small formulas to self-congregate: "I get older, but I have the impression that the more I get older, the better I am".
However, his body released him in April 2017. He experienced his first serious injury with a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee. He ends the season with a record of 28 goals in 46 games… and a European trophy. Unfortunately for him, not the right one. Without him, Man United wins the Europa League. Only five months after his injury, he resumed competition. "Was I worried about my return? No. Lions don't recover like humans. "Zlatan style. In March 2018, the Red Devils terminated the contract of Ibrahimovic, who had not appeared in the red jersey for three months.
His stats at Manchester: 29 goals in 53 games
Los Angeles Galaxy: American Featured
At 37, Zlatan has an American adventure with the Los Angeles Galaxy. A few days after the end of the contract with MU, he played his first game across the Atlantic. In September 2018, he crossed the 500 professional career goal mark, in an acrobatic manner:
In the United States, Ibra remained sharp, as his figures show: 53 goals in 58 games. Despite everything, he did not win Major League Soccer in two seasons with the Californian team. On November 13, 2019, he announced his departure on Twitter, with his famous tact: "I came, I saw, I won. For Galaxy fans, you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You're welcome. The story continues… Now go back to baseball. »All in simplicity.
His stats in Los Angeles: 53 goals in 58 games
AC Milan (2020-…): back in "his" city
At 38, Zlatan has one last challenge in the city and the club he loves. AC Milan is very far from the team it knew in the early 2010s. The Italian club is in 11th place in Serie A and is in great attacking difficulty. The Swede says he is ready to help his new team: “When you start a championship, the objective is to win something. Today is to help. With the young teammates, I will be even meaner. I have two children at home and I know how to make them grow. " It promises. Ibra is in the group to face Sampdoria this Monday evening in the championship. To be continued…
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