Zlatan Ibrahimovic shade Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar for his move to Saudi Arabia

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shaded Cristiano Ronaldo for his move to Saudi Arabia.

While Ibrahimovic’s comments may raise questions about the motivations of players moving to Saudi Arabia, they shed light on the complex decisions players face as they navigate the later stages of their careers. Whether they prioritize financial gain or a grand stage to showcase their talent, each player’s journey is unique, and their choices reflect their personal objectives and circumstances. However, what we do know is that multiple Saudi Pro League clubs, such as Al Hilal and Al Nassr, have benefitted in the past year from their transfer activity.

Ibrahimovic also gave insight into his time playing under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, revealing he told this former coach he ‘had no balls’ following a spat over whether or not he could drive his Ferrari to training. 

Describing one of the first times he met Guardiola, Ibrahimovic said: ‘When I met Pep, he told me: “Remember, the players here do not come with Ferraris.”

‘What did I do? Of course. I brought my f***ing Ferrari. I yelled: “You haven’t got any b***s!” and worse than that I added: “You can go to hell!”‘

Ibrahimovic, who played for Man United from 2016 to 2018, controversially defended the Glazers’ ownership of the club. 

He insisted ‘they are investing’ and claimed it is ‘wrong to say they are not doing what the fans expect them to do’.

‘You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. Because if you were remembered in the opposite way, what we are training every day for, what we are being recognised for, is our talent and that’s what you want to be remembered for.

‘So I think certain players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage, and that’s the big stage. 

‘You cannot go in a lower stage and finish your career in a different way. But some players needed the situations where you can earn a lot of money because they didn’t earn enough.’

Asked whether he would have an issue morally playing in Saudi Arabia, he added: ‘No, absolutely not. You have the golf situation now. They came together and they made it one, so I am just sorry for the players that didn’t go before because they didn’t get the money that the [other] players got.

When asked if he would have any moral qualms about playing in Saudi Arabia, Ibrahimovic dismissed the notion, citing how football connects people regardless of the location. He also highlighted the growth of football in Saudi Arabia and the MLS (Major League Soccer), expressing no reservations about playing in these leagues. One thing for the growth of football in Saudi Arabia has certainly been Ronaldo’s Al Nassr move.

The Swedish superstar explained, “You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. Because if you were remembered in the opposite way, what we are training every day for, what we are being recognized for, is our talent, and that’s what you want to be remembered for.”