Zlatan Ibrahimovic is renowned for his fiery temper and explosive personality. The Swede, who often refers to himself as a ‘god,’ is a controversial figure both on and off the pitch. While some may remember the former Barcelona player for his infamous outbursts and self-proclaimed status as the best in the world, there is a surprising softer side to Ibrahimovic.
This aspect was recently revealed by Ashley Cole, who played alongside the striker at L.A. Galaxy in the United States. Cole explained that Ibrahimovic had two sides, with his dressing room persona contrasting with the image he presented to the media.
Ashley Cole’s insight on Zlatan’s temper
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not the easiest player to deal with, even for managers. The only manager the former Sweden international truly ever got on with was Jose Mourinho, and fans can tell how much they respect each other whenever they get the chance to talk about each other.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is famous for his larger-than-life personality, which has earned him quite a reputation with the media. However, in a recent interview, Ashely Cole revealed Ibrahimovic always had a softer side to him, which they experienced in the dressing at L.A. Galaxy in the United States.
“He has two personalities. With us in the dressing room, he was always brilliant, quiet, very humble but for the media, he was a god. He had moments where he would come into the dressing room and really let people know about their s*** touch, can’t run, you’re slow but in front of the media, his persona changed.
He tried to once; he did throw his hands in the air, and I said, ‘Put your f***ing hands down’ I’m deadly serious, honestly. I was thinking, ‘You might have a little point, but you don’t put your hands up’.”
Since his retirement, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been more active in the media and recently dropped a bold take on claims that Lionel Messi was favored at the last World Cup in Qatar.
What was the last match for Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
Ibrahimovic recently drew the curtains on his illustrious career, one of the best for anybody in the sport. The Swede scored over 500 club goals in his glittering career, which saw him play for the likes of Ajax, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic was quite a journeyman. The former Juventus forward had spells in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, France, and even the United States. He finally ended his career at AC Milan after a 3-1 win over Verona in the Serie A.
“It’s the moment to say goodbye to football, not just to you,” the former PSG striker said when addressing the fans after the match.
“There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye,” he added.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement from football hasn’t changed his personality, as he recently criticized Mario Balotelli, who quickly fired back with one simple gesture.