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Speaking with the assembled media outside the Jim Beam Champions Lounge, LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic painted a positive picture of his future with the club and revealed a few precious bits of information in the process.
“I want to feel like my team can compete against other ones.” - Zlatan #LAGalaxy pic.twitter.com/PvCormk8zG
— Delmy Barillas (@DelmyBarillas) November 6, 2018
After the Galaxy failed to make the MLS Cup playoffs speculation was ripe Ibra might not stick around next year. Potentially the biggest hurdle to Zlatan’s return? Following a MVP caliber season in which Ibrahimovic bagged 22 goals and 10 assists and became the face of the league, the Swedish target striker is due a massive raise and LA don’t have a Designated Player spot available.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic just spoke with us.
— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) November 6, 2018
Zlatan says he’s “not worried” in terms of the Galaxy meeting his wishes.
Says the club knows his demands and that the club seems positive about meeting them.
Zlatan did not share his wishes with the media.#LAGalaxy
Yes Zlatan may have kept silent on his demands, but for the big Swede to acknowledge he’s on the same page as the Galaxy and isn’t worried about negotiations bodes well for the club.
How LA plan on opening up a DP spot is up in the air. The most likely scenario would involve the club shipping out Giovani dos Santos, a reality his brother and teammate Jona dos Santos is aware of.
JDS also tells me that in the event that Gio doesn’t return with the team next year, that he (JDS) would like to stay, even if that meant playing without his brother. #LAGalaxy
— Delmy Barillas (@DelmyBarillas) November 6, 2018
There have also been rumors Zlatan was seeking a winter move to AC Milan. As we hinted yesterday, Ibrahimovic reiterated he would not go out on loan as a LA Galaxy player.
Additionally as Kevin Baxter points out, Zlatan wants to win.
@Ibra_official says he and the @LAGalaxy continue to talk. "They know my wishes and I know their wishes," he said. At the top of Zlatan's list is the desire to play for a winning team. He is likely to seek assurances the team is moving in the right direction (1/2)
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) November 6, 2018
@Ibra_official also voiced support for Dominic Kinnear to be considered for the manager job full time. As of rumors of a European transfer, he said there has been interest expressed but "I belong to the Galaxy." A loan does not seem likely (2/2)
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) November 6, 2018
Sounds to us like Ibra is all-in on next season. We’ll keep you updated.