Upon arrival to represent Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed the real reason behind his decision to return to represent his country.
Many might think Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to Sweden could be a publicity stunt to help him get even more recognition than he already has. There are few players in history who actually perform at the level Zlatan has been doing it while he is pushing 40. If you have been looking at his performances this season for AC Milan, you know he is not bluffing.
Ibrahimovic truly has a desire to compete and see if he can help his national team win titles in this stage of his career. They already qualified for the Euros next summer, which could be one of Zlatan’s last tournaments for Sweden. However, he also wants to help his teammates reach the upcoming World Cup in 2022. They are about to face Georgia and Kosovo on their first two qualifiers ahead of that tournament in Qatar. Zlatan is not playing around, he explained why he chose to return now and not before.
Zlatan still thinks he can perform.
“We met for the first time, alone in a room, and we spoke about everything,” Ibrahimovic said at a press conference as per Football Italia. “It was a positive meeting where we confronted each other and, in the end, we chose what was best for Sweden. We both know what is best for the national team and today I’m sitting here in front of you. If I’m here, it’s not because my name is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but because I deserve to be here. Everything I have done before means nothing. I feel fit, I want to be involved and I feel I can still contribute for the national team. I’m just a piece of the puzzle. If you ask me, I’m the best in the world, but that doesn’t help here.
“I just want to put my experience at the disposal of the team and I promised the coach I will be decisive, but now I have to prove it on the pitch. In my head, the captain is Andreas Granqvist. But then it’s up to the coach to decide. I asked Alexander (Isak) if I could have the No. 11 shirt. He gave me the OK, as long as he could get it back within six or seven years. Forsberg had offered me No. 10, but I preferred to decline because this is a new chapter and it’s right that he has it. And then, the number doesn’t really matter.”
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