Former Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimović is considered a unique personality. He made a name for himself as an outspoken star during his playing career. Now, a retired Los Angeles Galaxy chief has opened up on the Swede’s idiosyncrasies. So, what did the ex-LA Galaxy boss reveal about the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) great?
Ex-LA Galaxy CEO Divulges Details of Chat With Zlatan Ibrahimović
During a recent chat on the “Dutch Dragons” podcast, ex-LA Galaxy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis te Kloese shared an anecdote involving Ibrahimović. He revealed that he was the one who informed the Swede that the club would not offer him a contract extension in 2019.
“I had to tell him because no one else dared to. I called him into my office, and I told him we weren’t going to renew his contract, to which Zlatan said, ‘That’s where you’re wrong, I’m not going to renew my contract.’,” Te Kloese, who is now Feyenoord’s CEO, said.
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Ibrahimović, who is now working as a senior adviser for Serie A side AC Milan, featured for LA Galaxy between March 2018 and December 2019. After leaving Manchester United as a free agent, he scored a staggering 53 goals and registered 15 assists in 58 appearances in all competitions for the Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
Ibrahimović Lifts Lid on New Senior Advisor Role
Earlier in October, Ibrahimović shed light on how he became a senior advisor to AC Milan’s American owners, RedBird Capital, in December 2023. The 44-year-old stated that RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale managed to convince him after multiple attempts.
“I felt like a free man (after retirement), I didn’t want to start making plans again. (Cardinale) insisted, he challenged me, and I always said no. Then I got curious. I asked him three things to agree: I have to be myself, no one can cage me in; if I come in, it has to be long-term; I’m coming back to win. He said, ‘That’s why we’re here.’,” Ibrahimović told La Gazzetta dello Sport (via GOAL).
The former Inter Milan and Juventus striker also said, “I represent the owners. Last year, I did more than I had to. No one asked me to, I just felt like doing it, but I didn’t like it, because if I can’t be myself, I don’t feel good. I don’t want to be caged in, and in fact, I didn’t want an office. I go to the people I need to talk to.”
Across his two spells at AC Milan as a player, Ibrahimović made 163 total appearances.
