Zlatan on his future: 'I made my choice a long time ago'
UPDATED: Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told a press conference he has "made his choice" for the future.
The Swedish footballer spoke to reporters in Stockholm ahead of Sweden's friendly against Slovenia on Monday in the run-up to this summer's Euro 2016 tournament in France.
However, he spent more time fielding questions about which club he will be heading to next, after playing his last-ever game for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, ending a four-year career in the French capital.
"I want to play football, make the right choices for the family. Everything necessary to enjoy life, both on and off the pitch. The future is written, I have made my choice," he said. "I made my choice a long time ago."
But he would not be drawn on rumours that he is set to sign for Manchester United, despite offering a wide smile when pressed on whether or not he had been in contact with the club.
"I make no guarantees. There are concrete offers from the Premier League. We'll see," he said, adding that he had also received offers from Italy and France, saying that "Italy is my second home, France is my third home".
When asked if he found the buzz distracting so close to the Euro 2016, he hinted that he was enjoying the speculation in international media.
"No, it would already have been sealed in that case. I only have to push the button. But there's time," he said.
"I want to enjoy what you're writing. There's a lot being written. According to someone everything would be decided in 48 hours, another said 90 percent here and 10 percent there. It's fun to follow. It's fun to find the rat, the one who's talking," he smiled.
READ ALSO: Ten ridiculous things Zlatan has compared himself to
Asked whether he was tempted to work again with Jose Mourinho, who is on the verge of becoming Manchester United's new coach, he said only that they had worked well together at Inter Milan, where Ibrahimovic played from 2006 to 2009.
"I think it's a great move," he commented the club's choice to hire Mourinho.
"You want action, you bring Mourinho. I believe he's the man to bring them back to top. Wherever he went he won."
"I had a fantastic time with him, when I was working with him. So, working again with him... When I left Inter with him I said we had a short time together... If we will work again I don't know," he said.
Comments
See Also
The Swedish footballer spoke to reporters in Stockholm ahead of Sweden's friendly against Slovenia on Monday in the run-up to this summer's Euro 2016 tournament in France.
However, he spent more time fielding questions about which club he will be heading to next, after playing his last-ever game for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, ending a four-year career in the French capital.
"I want to play football, make the right choices for the family. Everything necessary to enjoy life, both on and off the pitch. The future is written, I have made my choice," he said. "I made my choice a long time ago."
But he would not be drawn on rumours that he is set to sign for Manchester United, despite offering a wide smile when pressed on whether or not he had been in contact with the club.
"I make no guarantees. There are concrete offers from the Premier League. We'll see," he said, adding that he had also received offers from Italy and France, saying that "Italy is my second home, France is my third home".
When asked if he found the buzz distracting so close to the Euro 2016, he hinted that he was enjoying the speculation in international media.
"No, it would already have been sealed in that case. I only have to push the button. But there's time," he said.
"I want to enjoy what you're writing. There's a lot being written. According to someone everything would be decided in 48 hours, another said 90 percent here and 10 percent there. It's fun to follow. It's fun to find the rat, the one who's talking," he smiled.
READ ALSO: Ten ridiculous things Zlatan has compared himself to
Asked whether he was tempted to work again with Jose Mourinho, who is on the verge of becoming Manchester United's new coach, he said only that they had worked well together at Inter Milan, where Ibrahimovic played from 2006 to 2009.
"I think it's a great move," he commented the club's choice to hire Mourinho.
"You want action, you bring Mourinho. I believe he's the man to bring them back to top. Wherever he went he won."
"I had a fantastic time with him, when I was working with him. So, working again with him... When I left Inter with him I said we had a short time together... If we will work again I don't know," he said.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.