Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits LA Galaxy move is “tempting”

Just when the Zlatan saga had reached its dying embers, now its back in full-swing. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits he expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave in the summer, either to star for the LA Galaxy or to retire.

“I think he won the right of choosing his life, his future. He is such an amazing player and had an amazing career that only that awful injury in the wrong moment broke a fantastic couple of seasons he could and should have with us.

“This season has been really difficult for him. Is he injured? No. Does he feel totally happy, ready and convinced that he’s in condition to help the team in this moment? No.

“But he’s such an honest guy and such a champion he only wants to get back with that feeling of, ‘I’m totally ready for it’, so he’s working hard and hopefully his evolution brings him to that level he and brings him the positive answer he wants.”

Zlatan himself had a few words to say about the matter, noting his surprise that he wouldn’t be the first Swede to head abroad.

“I did not know that several Swedes went to MLS,” Ibrahimovic told Swedish reporters at the opening of a Padel racquet sport centre in Stockholm this week. “That means it’s tempting to play in the United States.

“Los Angeles is a nice city and I’ve been there a lot on vacation. It is laid back. I think it’s rumours all the time [about my future]. When I play and when I do not play it is rumours. That’s good, that means I live.”

Don’t expect the will-he-or-won’t-he saga to go away anytime soon. Ibrahimovic saw the Galaxy in person last year when Manchester United pummeled them in a friendly and wisely said “No thanks”. If you’re Zlatan, why not wait, try to win some silverware with United in the meantime, check back in soon, and if the Galaxy is still an attractive destination, then go for it?