Zlatan Ibrahimovic Not Ruling Out a Move to MLS
Recently signed Manchester United striker and Swedish International, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is reportedly not ruling out a move to MLS in the future.
One of the most successful players and forwards of this generation has not ruled out a move to Major League Soccer later in his career. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told Goal.com that “I am not ruling out the MLS.” He was linked with a move to the United States top flight earlier this year.
After Ibrahimovic’s contract ran out with Paris Saint-Germain this past season, he was a free agent looking for a new team with plenty of suitors interested. Clubs from around the world were vying for his signature as they wanted to acquire the star striker. MLS clubs were linked but Zlatan ultimately chose to sign a one-year deal with Manchester United.
The LA Galaxy were one Major League Soccer team that was linked to the 34-year old forward this summer. A move to MLS was unlikely this season as teams could simply not offer the amount of money that Manchester United could in the Premier League. Although a move stateside could be in the future for Ibrahimovic.
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Zlatan said that he could play until he’s 40. That would give the Swedish international five more seasons to play in MLS before he decides to call it a career. He also added that “I have a lot of respect for the MLS, and anything is possible.” These are encouraging words for Major League Soccer fans as they have high hopes of seeing Ibrahimovic playing in the United States one day.
He may already have an offer on the table for 2018 in Miami as David Beckham has already reached out to Zlatan. Ibrahimovic said that “David (Beckham) is a good friend of mine, and he has asked me to play for his (Miami) team.” The Miami franchise has a ways to go until they secure a spot in MLS but they have already made plans for a stadium and they are hoping to join the league in 2018.
In the past four seasons with PSG, Ibrahimovic appeared in 122 games and scored 113 goals for the French club. He has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe including AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Ajax. A move to the Premier League with Manchester United may be the final step before coming over the United States and MLS.
It will be interesting to see who the rest of Zlatan’s career plays out after this season at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho. It is very likely that he does play in Major League Soccer one day. It is only a matter of when and for what team once he makes the decision to play in the U.S.