Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have a queue of clubs waiting for him if he becomes a free agent this summer
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a footballer that seems to divide opinion amongst football fans more than any other in recent history.
The veteran striker has had more clubs than Tiger Woods, but seems to have experienced success wherever he has plied his trade.
At 34-years-old the mercurial striker is entering the twilight of his career and his time with French giants PSG seems to be coming to an end with his contract expiring this summer.
There has been plenty of speculation linking the striker with various moves, including to Manchester United.
The striker comes up against Premier League Chelsea in the second leg of the last-16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night, a game that the French side are odds of 13/8 to win.
Future not decided yet
Despite the aforementioned speculation in the press in the last few days about Ibrahimovic holding talks with United, the striker has himself moved to end the speculation over his future.
Addressing reporters prior to his clubs last-16 Champions League clash with Chelsea, he said: “I’m only just warming up,”
“I don’t believe that it’s the end of my career. Age is just a number. The difference is how you feel. I feel young, I feel very young. The season I’ve done so far, I’ve never had a better one statistically.
“My future is I have another two months with PSG, then I have the Euros to play with my national team.
“Whatever happens after that, like it is today, there is nothing after that. I’m not in discussion with anybody because for me it’s not the moment to talk about that. I’m not worried about the future. The future looks good after the season I’m doing.”
Does not look like his future is at PSG though
Although Ibrahimovic has stated he does not know what the future holds it seems he does not have much of a future at PSG. Even his statement saying he has two months left with PSG suggests that the striker is set to move on this summer.
PSG have been linked with a number of strikers in the press and seem dead set on shaking their attack up this summer, with Edinson Cavani’s future with the French club also in doubt.
Maybe the time is right for Ibrahimovic to move away from the French capital. Maybe boss Laurent Blanc believes that he needs to build for the future and that at 34 years-old the striker will not be playing top level football for much longer. Ibrahimovic obviously believes differently, as he stated to reporters.
Still in-demand
Ibrahimovic is right his stats for this season do not lie. In 34 games for PSG, he has scored 30 goals and produced 11 assists. Many will say that most of those goals have come against inferior sides in Ligue One, but three of those goals and two of the assists have come in the Champions League.
His goal scoring record throughout his career has been highly impressive. He has played in Holland, Spain, Italy and France, being prolific in every league he has played in so far. The striker does have a big ego, but his ego is matched by his sheer football ability.
I have to admit I have never liked the way that Zlatan has come across, as being selfish and arrogant, but love him or hate him his football ability outweighs the trouble he causes.
Ibrahimovic could well play on for a long time, because he has always depended on his football intelligence, rather than pace to be effective. It is the players who have made a career out of pace that suffer in the latter stages of a football career.
Ibrahimovic has never had any pace to lose, that aspect of his game will not change. However, he is unlikely to lose his positional and football intelligence.
If Zlatan Ibrahimovic does become a free agent this summer there is sure to be a long queue of clubs waiting to sign the highly-talent, but controversial star. There has also been talk of a move to the MLS or the Chinese Super League, as well of course with a move to the Premier League.
However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in still in good enough shape to still grace a major European league and the Champions League for a few years yet. I highly doubt that come the end of the season we will have seen the last the Swedish striker on the big stage.
Where will Zlatan Ibrahimovic be plying his trade next season?
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