Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2020 Performance
To a rare breed of footballers, age is nothing more than a mere number. Zlatan Ibrahimovic happens to be one of those players who aged like fine wine. The 39-year-old continues to score for fun in one of Europe’s top five leagues. In present-day football, MLS is still seen as a retirement home for high-profile European footballers. Yes, the league is growing in size and quality. But, it still does not attract top players to play there instead of Europe at their peaks.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic In MLS
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic set sail for the MLS in 2018, it seemed to be the final chapter of an illustrious career. The former Sweden national captain played for some of the biggest European clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United, PSG, Ajax, and Juventus. But, his successful MLS stint with LA Galaxy was not his swan song. At a somewhat unprecedented move, he returned to Europe and signed for AC Milan at 38. He didn’t take long to prove that he didn’t sign up for the Milan club to make up the numbers. In his first season, he finished with 10 goals and 5 assists in 18 matches. Milan narrowly missed a UCL spot. However, AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli was hopeful that Milan would be a force to reckon with the following season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be a big part of that.
The veteran striker started the new season even better. Before injury kicked him out of action, he played 6 Serie A matches for AC Milan this season. He had an unbelievable return of 10 goals and 2 assists! But he picked up a thigh injury against Napoli and got ruled out for the rest of 2020. After 14 rounds, Milan sits at the top of the table with 10 wins and 4 draws. The club built on the momentum set by Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the beginning of the season. Besides, the squad is eagerly waiting for their talisman to come back and revitalize their attack.
In Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has overcome one of his key criticisms. He is often portrayed as a man whose ego transcends his enormous talent as a player. He is too self-centered and is not that concerned about the rest of the team. In San Siro, we have seen Ibra lead from the front. He continues to remind his teammates about the grandeur of the club they play for. AC Milan is a sleeping giant, and Zlatan is convincing his colleagues that they can take a big step towards restoring the glory days of the Rossoneri. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also changed his style of play to cater to the present brand of Italian football. He comes down, plays link up, and often sets up his teammates for goals, reflected by his decent assist numbers. This makes Ibra even more crucial for the team.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is larger than life personality. At AC Milan, he seems to have found a way to channel his liveliness into his colleagues. On top of that, he continues to perform at a top level. Even though the Swede approaches 40, he will be the key to AC Milan’s success this season.
