ZL ATAN’S IN NEW GALAXY
I’m no crock says legend
® from EDDIE KIRK in Los Angeles
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has told LA Galaxy they’ve signed a legend – not an old crock.
The not-so-shy Swede’s Premier League stint fizzled out after Manchester United realised they could do without him.
The 36-year-old’s comeback from a serious knee injury suffered in April last year resulted in seven games, the last being a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley on Boxing Day when he was hooked at half-time.
United terminated his contract so he could have a swansong in the MLS and Ibrahimovic arrived in California having lost none of his swagger.
Excited
A full-page advert was taken out in the LA Times that read: “Dear Los Angeles, You’re welcome.”
The striker, who will earn £2.1m over two years, reckons he will make an instant impact.
The ex-Barcelona star said: “I am ready to go now. First of all, I’m there to play football. I’m not there for something else.
“I’m excited to come over and to get the experience with the Galaxy and to explore how the football is there. I want to be part of it and make it better.
“After being in Europe, winning 33 trophies, playing in the best teams in the world, playing with the best players in the world, I wanted to come to the US and play my game there. I want people to enjoy my game there and to win. And I chose the Galaxy to do that.”
Zlatan declared at Old Trafford that he was “a lion” and that “lions don’t recover like humans”.
Galaxy were happy to buy into that hype by making a video showing Ibrahimovic walking alongside a lion before declaring: “Los Angeles, Welcome to Zlatan.”
The Swede follows former England captains David Beckham and Steven Gerrard to the StubHub Center, and will play alongside Ashley Cole.
Galaxy, now rivalled by MLS newcomers Los Angeles FC, failed to make the play-offs last season.
LA Galaxy boss Sigi Schmid said of Ibrahimovic: “He’ll have a very positive impact.
“Adding one of the finest goalscorers in this sport’s history to our roster will tremendously help our club in the hunt for a sixth MLS Cup.”