Zlatan Ibrahimovic has often been linked with a move to the Premier League, but the Swedish legend he feels the time to move to England has passed for him.
Since leaving his homeland for Ajax as a 19-year-old back in 2001, the forward has gone on to establish himself as one of the stars of the modern game. After his three year spell in Holland, he went on to play for Juventus and Internazionale, then clinched a dream move to Barcelona before returning to Italy with Milan, and he is now starring in France for Paris St Germain.
Ibrahimovic won eight league titles on the bounce across three countries, and enjoyed success in a fourth when he helped Les Parisiens to the Ligue 1 crown last term. As well as succeeding in the UEFA Champions League, one notable omission from the 31-year-old’s CV is success in the Premier League. He has in the past been linked with a move to England, and even snubbed the chance to join Arsenal whilst he was still learning his trade at his first club, Malmo.
“When I was in Malmo there was someone who invited me to Arsenal to see Arsene Wenger,” he told Eurosport back in 2009. “And I went there, I saw Patrick Vieira and the other big players who were there and when I met Wenger we spoke a little bit. Then I also had Monaco, Ajax and Roma who contacted me. But in the end Ajax were keener. I think it was a better solution for me even if Wenger is doing fantastic job with the young guys.”
More recently, Manchester City have been linked with Ibrahimovic. The Blues have enjoyed success in recent seasons having won the FA Cup in 2011 and then the title the following year, so this option would give him a realistic chance of winning a championship in a fifth different country. However, the current PSG star feels his time to taste life in England has probably passed, although he has teasingly refused to completely rule out the possibility.
“To come to England? My time has passed,” he told the BBC. “I am above 30, I have a good relationship with Paris St Germain, with the team. I feel that I can bring out all my qualities at PSG. I have a big responsibility also at PSG. So in my mind, no. But then you never know what happens in football. Every time I plan my future, I change it. So better to take one day at a time.”
