Zlatan
Ibrahimovic said he was ready to win silverware with Los Angeles Galaxy
after the club confirmed his move from Manchester United to Major
League Soccer.
A full-page advert in yesterday’s LA Times newspaper
showed Ibrahimovic wearing the white Galaxy kit, with a message from the
36-year-old Swedish striker saying “Dear Los Angeles, you’re welcome”.
The
club website later announced the signing with the words ‘Welcome
Zlatan’ - along with a short video of the player walking out with a
lion.
“I decided to sign with Galaxy because I think it’s the right
place for me,” he said. “I think I have a lot to give, I can help them a
lot. It’s the best team in the US. There were no doubts.”
Ibrahimovic
becomes the latest high-profile player to move to the MLS in the latter
part of his career - following the likes of David Beckham, Steven
Gerrard, Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard. Former England captain Beckham
won the MLS Cup twice after joining Galaxy in 2007 and became an iconic
figure for the growth of the game in a country hooked on more
traditional American sports like NFL and baseball.
Ibrahimovic, while in the latter stages of a glittering career, could have a similar impact.
The
Swede left United on Thursday when the Premier League club agreed to
terminate his contract and said the move is about writing another
chapter in a storied career in which he won league titles in Italy, the
Netherlands, Spain and France.
“After being in Europe, winning 33
trophies, playing in the best teams in the world, playing with the best
players in the world, I wanted to come to the U.S. and play my game
there,” Ibrahimovic told the LA Times.
“I wanted people to enjoy my game there and to win. And I chose the Galaxy to do that.”
‘PLACE FOR STARS’
Dan
Beckerman, the president of entertainment giant AEG, the Galaxy’s
parent organisation, said Ibrahimovic would become one of the biggest
stars in the Hollywood city.
“He’s giving up a lot to come here,”
Beckerman told the LA Times. He’s made it clear he’s coming here to win
championships. It’s not about the money.
“L.A. is a place for stars, and he’s going to be one of the brightest stars that’s ever played in this market. In any sport.”
Ibrahimovic,
who scored 62 goals in 116 games for Sweden and played for some of
Europe’s biggest clubs including Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona and
Paris St Germain, is reported to have accepted $3 million over two
season to play for Galaxy, a huge wage cut from his United salary.
Ibrahimovic justified United’s outlay when he scored 28 times in all
competitions in his first season at Old Trafford.
But after a knee
injury sustained nearly a year ago he has managed only seven appearances
this season. Despite that Ibrahimovic, who boasts nearly five million
Twitter followers and owns a clothing brand, said he was ready for
action.
“I am ready to go now,” Ibrahimovic said. “First of all, I’m
there to play football. I’m not there for something else. My first
objective is to play football and do what I’m good at.
“I’m excited
to come over and to get the experience with the Galaxy and to explore
how the football is there. I want to be part of it and make it better.”
Ibrahimovic’s first action for Galaxy could even come against city rivals Los Angeles Football Club on March 31.
Manchester United’s striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action during the EPL match against Newcastle at Old Trafford in Manchester on November 18, 2017. (AFP)