By Joe Koraith/Doha
Football, like any other sport has characters in fact it needs them. When you have an insanely talented player, a bit self-indulgent and one who speaks his mind, it makes for an exciting combination. And if there’s any one character that fits that bill in today’s world of football that would be Zlatan Ibrahimovich.
The striker has been leading the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain and is the captain of his national team – Sweden. The crazy bicycle-kick goal against England in a friendly in 2012 has been watched a zillion times on YouTube, and he recently almost pulled off another acrobatic volley against St. Etienne during their Coupe de la Ligue encounter. Only the crossbar prevented Ibrahimovich from scoring another YouTube hit.
Football fans in Qatar will get to see this mercurial striker in action when his team takes on Inter Milan in a friendly at the Al Sadd stadium on December 30.
This match is being used as a test event by Qatar for the 2016 AFC U23 Championship (January).
A lot of eyes are on Qatar with them being the hosts of the 2022 World Cup for which massive preparations are underway. And Ibrahimovich is eagerly looking forward to the tournament.
“The World Cup in Qatar will be an amazing thing. It’s something that I don’t want to miss,” said the striker yesterday.
The tall (really tall at 6’ 5”) forward is currently under contract with PSG but that will expire in June and the Swede hasn’t revealed his future plans yet. And while the 34-year-old will get snapped by other European clubs, he doesn’t rule out playing in the Qatar Stars League.
“I have a good relationship with PSG owner Nasser al-Khelaifi. About playing in Qatar is something that I have to decide when the moment comes. It depends on how I feel physically. But I have a good relationship with Qatar and playing there is a possibility,” said Ibrahimovich.
PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments and Ibra believes that investment from the Middle East in European football is helping new clubs take on the traditional bigwigs. “You always had the old traditional powerhouses winning the big trophies. With this investment coming in you had other teams, new comers that were able to increase their quality, play at a high level and challenge these big clubs,” he said.
“It has had a domino effect. Now big players choose to go to different clubs and not just the select few big names. So I think it has had a positive effect,” he added.
Ibra uses his own example of when he moved to PSG in 2012 and how the team has experienced an upward curve since then. “I knew it would be a big challenge before I came here. The club wanted to do something great. And I am happy I was there at the start. When I came it was a different world when compared today. I am among the first players to come here and bring it to the top,” said the 34-year-old.
“I feel that I have a lot of responsibility in PSG. I knew that I would make history with this club. When I leave football, I will sit down and think about having been part of this great project,” he added.
PSG’s Qatar Winter Tour will take place over four days, starting from December 27 and will end with the friendly on December 30. And Ibra said that he and his team would look to provide the fans here with lots of entertainment. “We have been to Qatar a couple of times. We have been winning trophies and we want to continue this tradition. I am happy to be there presenting my team and I am happy for Qatar that they will welcome two big teams like PSG and Inter,” said Ibra.
“I would like tell the fans in Doha that we will do everything to make them enjoy the game. See you soon,” signed off the football maverick.
Now for that overhead scissor-kick against Inter here in Doha. Wait and watch we shall.
