Ibrahimovic ‘not finished yet’ with MLS, re-signs with LA Galaxy
LOS ANGELES: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not yet done with Major League Soccer ( MLS), as the Los Angeles Galaxy said on Tuesday the Swedish striker agreed to return to the club for another season.
Ibrahimovic, who joined the Galaxy in March af ter leaving Premier League side Manchester United, enjoyed an impressive debut season in North America and was named MLS Newcomer of the Year.
But the 37-year- old Swede, the subject of rumours linking him to a transfer to AC Milan, felt he had more to prove in MLS after failing to lead his Galaxy side to the playoffs and so agreed to return to the club as a Designated Player.
“I’m not fi nished yet with the MLS,” Ibrahimovic said in a video provided by the Galaxy.
“I started good, I did good but I am still not satisfied for the outcome. I have things still to do and I see my fi rst year as a warming up and the second year will be different.”
Ibrahimovic f inished the 2018 campaign with 22 goals and 10 assists in 27 regular season appearances, making him only the third player in MLS history to record a 20-goal, 10-assist season.
The prolific goal scorer became the latest high-profi le player to join MLS in the latter part of his career following the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard.
Former England captain Beckham won the MLS Cup twice after joining Galaxy in 2007 and became an iconic fi gure for the growth of the game in a country hooked on more traditional American sports l ike NFL and baseball.
Ibrahimovic, while in the latter stages of a glittering career that includes league titles in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and France is hopeful of having a similar impact with his current club.
“I’m here to win. I said fi rst day I am not here for vacation,” said Ibrahimovic. — Reuters