PHOTO: Bildbyrån
An unparalleled football career has come to an end.
Now Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals the great secrecy.
– I didn’t even tell my family, says “Ibra” at the press conference.
On Sunday evening, it happened as many feared, but it still came as a big shock. Zlatan Ibrahimovic said goodbye and ended his football career for good.
Zlatan’s farewell
He played well past his 41st birthday and can now sum up an incredible career that has taken him from Malmö FF and out into the big world with games for big clubs Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United and Los Angeles Galaxy. Many had feared that this day would come, yet the entire football world was shocked when the announcement suddenly came in connection with Milan’s last game of the season.
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The last season has been nightmarish for Ibrahimovic who has been plagued by major injury problems. Even though he didn’t get to finish playing the last game, he was given a dignified farewell by the Milan fans.
READ MORE: Zlatan was booed during his big farewell from football – the star’s answer makes the whole football world cheer right out
No one knew about
“Ibra” was extremely touched and could not hold back the tears during the farewell. After the match, Zlatan then held the press conference that ended his entire football career and revealed the great secrecy.
– The thing is that nobody knew about this decision. I wanted everyone to know at once. It is my decision and I wanted no one to be able to go around and say that: “I knew” or “this will happen”, says the 41-year-old.
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Not even his immediate family knew about what Zlatan was about to do.
– I didn’t even tell my family, he says at the press conference.
– It was very emotional. If someone had asked me if I was going to quit three months ago, I would have gone crazy. But now I accept it.
READ MORE: Zlatan Ibrahimovics reveals the plan after the farewell – the icon will do that now: “I will enjoy it”
Ibra’s future
Now an uncertain future awaits Ibrahimovic, who has not yet decided what he wants to do here next after his playing career.
– As I explained in Italian, in the near future I will take my time and just calm the whole situation down. Look back at all I’ve done, enjoy all I’ve done and enter the new chapter I’m entering. We’ll see when the time comes when I’m ready for proposals from different directions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic also admits that this was entirely his own decision and nothing the family could influence.
– They had no desire, he says at the press conference.
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