Milan veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic has emerged with an interesting interview where he has declared that French football has suffered since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016. The Swedish icon led PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and left the club after four seasons later, racking 156 goals from 180 appearances during his stay.
He spoke to Canal Plus (via Pianeta Milan) in a lengthy exclusive interview and was particularly shrewd when commenting about the state of the French top-tier since his departure.
“Since I left France, the whole level has dropped. There is nothing to talk about. France needs me, I don’t need France. Even if there are players of Mbappé, Neymar and Messi’s level it doesn’t help. That’s because they don’t have God,” he jokingly declared.
Zlatan : « Depuis que j’ai quitté la France, tout s’écroule. (…) Même si vous avez Mbappé, Neymar et Messi en France, ça ne suffit pas, parce que vous n’avez pas Dieu. » ?
? @CanalplusFoot pic.twitter.com/0jCvS420kL
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) October 30, 2022
Ibra turned 41 earlier this month and is currently sidelined until the start of 2023 due to a serious anterior cruciate (ACL) injury in his left knee for which he was operated.