Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a forward for AC Milan, has warned Erling Haaland, a striker for Manchester City, about Pep Guardiola’s ego.
The 41-year-old said that Guardiola was the reason he did not enjoy his time in Barcelona during an interview with Canal+.
Zlatan responded in the yes when asked in the interview if he liked Haaland.
“Do I like Haaland? Yes, very much so. I think he is a very intelligent player. He does not do things that he is not capable of doing. He doesn’t go down to get the ball to play on. He waits in front of the goal and he kills everyone.”
“He reminds me of players like Filippo Inzaghi, David Trezeguet, and Christian Vieri. He is the new version of these players.”
Haaland’s physique and ability to complete passes whenever he is in front of the goal have led to comparisons to Ibrahimović’s playing style.
The seasoned Milan striker has commented on Haaland and made it obvious that he holds the expensive summer acquisition in the highest regard.
Ibrahimovic has speculated that Guardiola would impede the Norwegian’s growth and is unsure of how he will develop at the Etihad Stadium.
When the Swedish international was asked if Pep will make Haaland great, he said: “It depends on Guardiola’s ego, whether he lets him get bigger than him or not. Because he didn’t let me get bigger. Me or others. Not just me, but many others.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who competes for both the Sweden national team and Serie A club AC Milan, was born on October 3, 1981.
Ibrahimovic is well known for his dexterous attacks and volleys, strong long shots, and superb technique and ball control.
With 34 titles in his career, he is one of the most decorated active footballers in the world and is considered as one of the best attackers of all time.
He has scored in each of the last four decades and has over 570 career goals, including more than 500 club goals.
Erling Haaland
Erling Braut Haaland, a striker for Manchester City of the Premier League and the Norwegian national team, was born in Norway on July 21, 2000.
He is renowned for his speed, strength, and finishing. He is regarded as one of the top players in the world.
Haaland played at the senior level for Bryne’s reserve and senior teams after progressing through the youth system. He went to Molde in 2017 and spent two seasons there, playing for their reserve team as well.
Haaland won two league championships and one Austrian Cup before signing with Austrian Bundesliga team Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019.
He transferred to German Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund in December 2019, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2020–21.
Since joining the Premier League from Borussia Dortmund, Haaland has scored 22 goals across all competitions for Guardiola’s team.
What Happened Between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola?
According to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the way Pep Guardiola treated him while he was the manager of Barcelona still influences him today.
Ibrahimovic joined Barcelona from Inter Milan in 2009 but only played there for one season before leaving for AC Milan due to a rift with Guardiola.
According to Sky Italia (via Liam Corless of the Mirror), the 41-year-old Swede stated he still blames Guardiola and continues to be driven by his Barcelona ordeal even if the Spanish manager is now in charge of United’s nearby rivals Manchester City:
“I learned a lot from Barcelona, on and off the pitch. I learned that in football any situation can change in 24 hours. The problem wasn’t with me, it was with him and he never came to terms with it. I don’t know what his problem was with me”, Ibrahimovic was quoted as saying.
“Before [I joined Barca] he was calling me every day to get me and then all of a sudden the situation changed. It is something that drives me, gives me adrenaline, and extra motivation. It is normal, after what has happened. I’m using it as a positive, not a negative. It is something in the back of my mind. It is the past and I am someone who looks to the future and the future is in front of me.”
According to WhoScored.com, he had a respectable season with the Blaugrana in 2009–10, scoring 16 goals and dishing out seven assists in 29 appearances as Barca won La Liga.
Ibrahimovic was eventually loaned to Milan for the 2010–11 season before signing a long-term contract with the Italian powerhouses.
Ibrahimovic has consistently criticized Guardiola over the years. He previously called the manager a “spineless coward” in his autobiography and is known for saying of his treatment at Barca: “You bought a Ferrari, but you drive it like a Fiat,” according to reports.
Although Ibrahimovic has experience working with Guardiola, the two were infamously at odds when he was a player at Barcelona.
Ibrahimovic has even admitted that during his brief stay at Camp Nou, he felt like he lost his “identity.”
