The Swedish striker admits that the combination of his knee injury and his partner's desire to move to LA made him decide to leave Old Trafford
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confessed that he moved to Major League Soccer because he had nothing more to give Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
The veteran centre-forward secured a free-transfer to LA Galaxy after being released from his contract by the Red Devils back in March.
The Swede scored 28 goals in all competitions in his debut season for Mourinho's side but he sustained serious knee ligament damage towards the end of the 2016-17 campaign, which kept him out action until November the following season.
Ibrahimovic soldiered on until well into the new year, but he was unable to reproduce his best form , which he alludes to in extracts from his new book "I'm Zlatan Ibrahimovic", as reported by Expressen .
"If you want me to play, I'm playing, but I do not want to disappoint you. I can not give you what I can usually give you," Zlatan says he told Mourinho towards the end of his time in Manchester.
The chance to play in the MLS arose soon after and his agent Mino Raiola has revealed that Ibrahimovic's long-time partner Helena Seger also played a major part in his final decision to move to America.
"This is what he does for the family," Raiola said. "It's an old promise to Helena to move to Los Angeles once. She loves Los Angeles."
The book offers a unique insight into Ibrahimovic's entire career, which spans over 19 years, during which time he has played for nine different clubs around the globe.
The 37-year-old also looks back on when he left AC Milan to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, which he has suggested was not initially a move he was prioritising.
"I wanted to keep my Milan salary," Zlatan states in the book. "I wanted them (Parisians) to say something like, 'Dude, you're exaggerating, you're asking too much', I wanted to use that for them to withdraw.
"But only twenty minutes later, Mino reminded me and said: 'You have everything you asked for'. After that, there was no turning back so I told him 'ok, get everything ready'. I am a man of my word."
Ibrahimovic went on to play for PSG for four years, scoring 156 goals in 180 appearances, which set a new club record before his move to United in the summer of 2016.
The ex-Milan striker is now enjoying some time off following LA Galaxy's failure to make the MLS playoffs , having scored 22 goals in his first 27 games for the club.
jadi_092
266
Well Zlatan is doing Great for LA Galaxy. The respect he is getting there is never the less. He won't ignore clubs love and respect for him. Zlatan won't be leaving Galaxy for one more season. Otherwise it will be a disrespectful act.
Phelixampzi
198
zlatan is better than lukaku
godykemanutd
183
Sometimes i don't really understands some people's opinion. those who voted yes that Manchester united would have been better with Zlatan how on earth did you come to that conclusion, yes ones opinion is not bad but sometimes it is unacceptable. Zlatan said the Rhythm of the Epl is too high and even if you are the best if you can't keep up with the pace you will not succeed. and Now in his book he Zlatan again said he to Jose Mourinho that he can not give him what he used to given him before in other words Zlatan is saying he can't keep up with the pace any longer, he can't score like he used to and he has nothing else to give. Why then are people saying Manchester United would have been better with Zlatan? in top flight football at 37 years Zlatan is gone and he made the right choice to join MLS where the rhythm and the pace is very low in other not to stain his image in the EPL. is Zlatan stayed and at the end of the season he scored only 8 goals, no one will remember his age and all they will be saying is that Zlatan flopped. i voted NO and i still stand by the NO because the lion himself have said it that he can not roar like he used to.
Gerarda
172
United finished 6th and this guy didn't score vs Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs while scoring a consolation against city. He could have come 10 years back, 20 years back, doesn't change the fact he always choked in the biggest moments. Go look at his champions league knockout stages record.
Naimurrahmansiam
142
Zlatan said in a interview while talking facts about Pep,"I can go kill for Mourinho."Really he respected Mou alot and wanted to be his special man but with his age,he kinda knows that he has lost his pace and fitness to play for Manchester United.Otherwise,as he said that he could have killed then I don think there are any other reason than this to leave United.And money has always been with him that can t be the case I gusse
Doncekopu
116
yes he should return to help the fat one
Colinkong
108
personally, I don't think Lukaku has been a good enough replacement and I still think that they had been better off with Zlatan than with Lukaku now. The rumours of him comming back aren't for nothing.
ricackoptz
73
he is the consumate professional....gives his best to the team.. n he earned the respect from the fans......