Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the 31-year-old Swedish superstar of Bosnian-Croatian descent, is a name synonymous with unpredictability and hullabaloo in world football.
Yet again he’s in the news for all the wrong reasons.
With seconds remaining in the first leg of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with Valencia, one moment of madness saw the volatile Swede commit an insane tackle on Andres Guardado that led to his marching orders.
It’s astonishing how a player with so much experience would respond in such a manner considering the situation of the match, with his team 2-1 up. But in hindsight, should we be surprised by the superstar’s latest episode? It’s always good to expect the unforeseen with Ibra.
Being one of the most expensive footballers in the history of the game, having cost various clubs more than £150 million in transfer fees, Ibra is a person who lives life king-size and expects to be the centre of attraction wherever he goes. He makes Mario Balotelli’s antics pale in comparison.
“Whenever life’s at a standstill, I need some action,” says Ibra. And living up to his word, action means driving one of his luxury toys, a Ferrari, Porsche Carrera, Volvo C30 TS or Audi S8, in a way only he can. “I always drive like a madman going up to 325kmph sometimes leaving the police behind,” said the Swede once.
All through his career playing for clubs all over Europe he has been mired in controversy in some form or the other with opponents, tea-mates, referees and managers.
One of the most high-profile cases was his altercations with former Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, whom he labeled a coward with no balls. He had an intense tussle with an AC Milan teammate at training and has also clouted opponents in the face playing for the Rossoneri in Serie A.
Ibra might be unstable off the pitch but he is a top performer on the field. Despite being one of the most underrated footballers in the modern era, here is a player who has won eight straight league titles with five different clubs in three different countries – an obvious indication of what a phenomenal talent he is.
His audacious overhead bicycle kick against England in a friendly in November when he scored four goals was just one glimpse of his ability.
However, with just two goals so far in the Champions League competition this season, questions are being raised about his commitment to the game and his big fat pay cheque.
But there’s no questioning what Ibra brings to a team. He deserves to be held right up there with the likes of Robin Van Persie (Man United), Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid) and Edinson Cavani (Napoli) as one of the potent strikers in the game today.
Some things never change and with no hope of clamping down on histrionics, Ibra will continue to rock the boat in his own inimitable fashion. A flawed genius indeed.
AlexThanopoulos
Roar Rookie
Portsmouth beat Barca!
k77sujith
Guest
Nice one Alex :)
AlexThanopoulos
Roar Rookie
He is this generations Christain Vieri.... with more talent.
k77sujith
Guest
I dont think he would leave PSG any time soon. But you never know in the world of football. A lot would depend on where PSG stands at the end of this season in all competitions.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
To be fair, He was interviewed by a German Mag. I think most players would have had the same answer. Plus all top players would have Bayern as their option if one day they had the opportunity to play in the bundesliga.
Damiano
Guest
A talented mercenary. His temperment and constant changing of clubs will ensure his legacy is largely forgotten in the future. Recent reports suggest his agent was talking up a return to Juventus, but the club didn't want him back.
AlexThanopoulos
Roar Rookie
Overnight from our boy Ibra.... Priorities. Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 31, says he would be interested in a move to Bayern Munich after his present spell at Paris St-Germain.
k77sujith
Guest
I agree with you Nordter...it didn't look that very harsh. Must say that Ibra did well not to react to the ref's decision. Arrogance is a necessary ingredient for a top athlete but it's a very fine line. I think Ibra has a reputation of crossing that line way too often.
nordster
Guest
Legend....the tackle wasnt even that bad, everything looks worse watched over and over, in slow mo and multiple angles. I mean cut the Striker some slack :) The appearance of what can look to be arrogance i like sometimes....if we had more players like that here maybe we would unearth more 'tensai' geniuses. While the 'no d-ckhead' policy u see at our clubs is good on some levels...it does mean too many of the misunderstood types like Ibra fall thru the cracks. Some of em are actually just humble and a little distant is all.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
He comes across as arrogant and disrespectful towards his team mates at times, especially the younger ones. materazzi said recently that during his years at inter Ibra was quite tough, and unfair, with his team mates. In my mind, that's not a leader. But yes, he is a champion, a match winner and am glad he is at PSG.
k77sujith
Guest
Thanks Nick. He is divisive but I'm not sure if he demands too much from his team-mates. I think he likes to have the focus on him which is why he craves for attention off the pitch and creates differences amongst his members.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Good read. Not sure he is one of the most underrated footballers of our era though, not by the best coaches at least, that's why he has played for the best clubs. Problem is, he is a very divisive player and demand far too much from his team mates IMO. Some of the best football PSG has played this year was without him. But yes, he scores goals out of nowhere. A big dilemma in every team he played for.
k77sujith
Guest
Good point there Brian. True, he doesn't always perform when it matters most..probably one of the reasons why he hasn't won the champs league yet. But, a phenomenal player and very hard to get the ball off him when he's in the zone.
k77sujith
Guest
Immensely talented and one amongst the ebst but nowhere in the league of say Messi and Ronaldo. His temperament is dodgy and attitude at times.
Brian
Guest
A supreme talent who rarely delivers at the crunch. The greatest coup Inter ever pulled was to get $20m for a guy who never scores in Finals and bring in a guy who always scored in Finals (Etoo)
Movic
Guest
Ibra is the best, period.