The English thought I was a prima donna...that’s why it felt great to do THIS IBRA REVEALS THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT GOAL FOR SWEDEN
AS a footballer who specialises in Hollywood goals, the penthouse suite of a Sunset Boulevard hotel suits Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He leans back and smiles when asked to pick out one or two of his better efforts over the past two decades.
There were a couple of showstoppers for LA Galaxy in his debut season and the odd one for Manchester United that would make his highlights reel.
However, he cannot help but keep going back to THAT goal against England.
You know the one. The last of his four in Sweden’s 4-2 win back in 2012 – the extraordinary scissor-kick volley from 30 yards out. “That goal against England is nice because the English thought they knew who I was, but apparently they didn’t,” he said.
“So I let them know who I was by that. And it was extra special because it was against the England team.
“There had been many years of English journalists and people talking about whether he is good or not so good, talking about me as some sort of prima donna, saying he thinks he is something, look at his long hair and stuff.
“It’s funny, that stuff, because it triggers me. I take it as a challenge – it gives me motivation. It keeps me going, makes me want to work even harder. And before an England game, they would make whatever negativity that was out there about me even bigger.”
Maybe the scepticism towards Zlatan – which, he believes, should have vanished after his short, but eventful spell at Manchester United – has coloured his views on the English national game, but he certainly thinks there is still a lot of progress to be made.
He says: “I would like to see more English players play abroad. It is always about doing well in the Premier League, but let’s try Serie A, let’s try La Liga, let’s try Germany, like a couple have.
“Because then you learn something different and you shape your quality even more.
“Tell me who are the best players in the Premier League and half the players you mention are foreigners.
“The difference is the foreigners. The young English players you mention are doing well and England had a good World Cup. They were beaten by the better team in Croatia, but they had a good World Cup.”
Ibrahimovic, the marquee man for LA Galaxy, is now in his second season in Major
League Soccer, the seventh different league that he has played in.
And he will always have a soft spot for his time with United, even though it was interrupted by the serious knee injury he sustained at the end of his first season.
He said: “I think I had a fantastic time. I had the chance to go to Manchester United and, if I was going to the Premier League, the only club I would go to i s Manchester United, so that when I do my thing, not only will England see it, the whole world will see it. “That’s why I chose United because, when you do something at United, the whole world sees it.
“And I came when I was 35. I said I would take the challenge and it would not be easy, but I will go and show who I am. And things went like they went.”
Even though he turned 37 in October, Ibrahimovic has had offers from European clubs, but, for now, he is loving life in LA.
“At the moment, my body is giving me positive feedback, so I will carry on playing,” he said, with a smile.
“I am happy and the family is happy – that is the most important thing.”