When PSG meet Barcelona in the UEFA Champions’ League quarter final, one man will be determined to dictate the proceedings for the sake of his pride. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to Nou Camp to meet some friends and some foes too.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is probably the biggest name in Swedish football. This name belongs to a striker whose immaculate skills have made uncountable jaws drop over the years. When on the field, Ibrahimovic commands respect. When in possession, the opposing defence is well aware that the can be tested anytime and in anyway.
The sheer class of Ibrahimovic can be measured from the fact that in 2012, he was ranked by Guardian as the fifth best footballer. His positive impact on the teams he plays for can be judged by the 18 club medals that he has gathered throughout his career. He’s made it to the UEFA Team of the Year twice, and has been the top scorer in Serie A the same number of times.
With his class comes a price tag that might be envied by many. In the summer of 2009, Ibrahimovic joined Barcelona at a price of €69 million, the second highest transfer fee in the history of football, behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchster United to Real Madrid.
However, his stay at Barcelona was not the highest point of his prestigious football career, as rifts with the then manager Pep Guardiola meant that the Swede never quite settled at the Nou Camp.
Regardless of this, he ended the season with 16 league goals, contributing massively to the Catalans total of 99 points and eventual league title triumph. The following season, he moved on to AC Milan, where two successful seasons reminded the world of his unparalleled talent.
After scoring 28 goals in 32 matches in the 2011-12 season, he left Milan for Paris Saint-Germain, where an annual net salary of €14 million makes him the second highest paid footballer in the world. On 18th September 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s Champion’s League goal against Dynamo Kiev made him the first player ever to score for as many as six clubs in Europe’s top-most competition.
On 2nd April 2013, Ibrahimovich will be looking forward to face his old club Barcelona. Behind him are the 24 goals that he has scored for the French side so far, making him the highest goal scorer in Ligue 1 this season. Looking at the Swede’s phenomenal career, one can safely assume that he will leave no stone unturned in order to make sure that his side knock-out the Spanish giants to stage an upset.
Additionally, he will want to play the pivotal role in this progression, particularly because of his patchy history with the Catalans. PSG are an evolving club, and Ibrahimovich wants to play his part as one of the pioneers behind putting the club on the face European football. A win against Barcelona can prove to be the catalyst to achieve just that. On 2nd April, the world will be watching a mercurial Swede take on the kings of Europe.
The sheer class of Ibrahimovic can be measured from the fact that in 2012, he was ranked by Guardian as the fifth best footballer. His positive impact on the teams he plays for can be judged by the 18 club medals that he has gathered throughout his career. He’s made it to the UEFA Team of the Year twice, and has been the top scorer in Serie A the same number of times.
With his class comes a price tag that might be envied by many. In the summer of 2009, Ibrahimovic joined Barcelona at a price of €69 million, the second highest transfer fee in the history of football, behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchster United to Real Madrid.
However, his stay at Barcelona was not the highest point of his prestigious football career, as rifts with the then manager Pep Guardiola meant that the Swede never quite settled at the Nou Camp.
Regardless of this, he ended the season with 16 league goals, contributing massively to the Catalans total of 99 points and eventual league title triumph. The following season, he moved on to AC Milan, where two successful seasons reminded the world of his unparalleled talent.
After scoring 28 goals in 32 matches in the 2011-12 season, he left Milan for Paris Saint-Germain, where an annual net salary of €14 million makes him the second highest paid footballer in the world. On 18th September 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s Champion’s League goal against Dynamo Kiev made him the first player ever to score for as many as six clubs in Europe’s top-most competition.
On 2nd April 2013, Ibrahimovich will be looking forward to face his old club Barcelona. Behind him are the 24 goals that he has scored for the French side so far, making him the highest goal scorer in Ligue 1 this season. Looking at the Swede’s phenomenal career, one can safely assume that he will leave no stone unturned in order to make sure that his side knock-out the Spanish giants to stage an upset.
Additionally, he will want to play the pivotal role in this progression, particularly because of his patchy history with the Catalans. PSG are an evolving club, and Ibrahimovich wants to play his part as one of the pioneers behind putting the club on the face European football. A win against Barcelona can prove to be the catalyst to achieve just that. On 2nd April, the world will be watching a mercurial Swede take on the kings of Europe.
