Former Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given his opinion on the players’ exile to Saudi Arabia.
The former Parisian, who retired this summer due to injuries, was asked about players like Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema leaving Europe’s top leagues for the Saudi Pro League.
Ibrahimovic judges Ronaldo and Benzema
During his long interview with Piers Morgan, he confided: “I received an offer from China. I also received an offer from Saudi Arabia, but the situation is: what do you want? What are your goals ? I said it before we started, some players need to finish their career on the big stage because it’s the highlight of your career.”
Ibrahimovic, himself, went to monetize his talent in an exotic league, namely MLS. But he finished his career with a major player in Europe, namely AC Milan. “You should be remembered for your talent, not for what you won,” he said. Indeed, if we remembered you in the opposite sense, what we train for every day, what we are recognized for, is our talent and that is why you want the we remember you. That’s why I think some players who reach a certain level have to stop at a certain stage, and that’s the big stage. You can’t go to a lower stage and end your career in a different way.”
“We must stop at the most beautiful scene”
While deploring the fact that great footballers are burying themselves in a minor league, Ibra still admitted to understanding their choice: “But some players need situations where they can make a lot of money because they weren’t making enough.”
