Do you ever get the feeling that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one step ahead of us? The guy is one of the most talented players in the world, yet our want for him to be consistently brilliant leads many to color him as mercurial or selfish. But there’s still an ego-centric playfulness about him, whether it be him karate kicking Rodney Strasser, giving his fiance “Zlatan” as an engagement gift, or his vulnerable moments shared with Gerard Piqué. It seems Zlatan is always ready to reveal a new side for us, just as we’re coming to grips with his latest revelation.
We Should Have Seen This Coming: Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Retire In 2014
Until today, Zlatan’s newest facet had been Rossoneri figurehead, ready to lead Milan to their first scudetto in six years. And just as we’re starting to love him again, appreciate the moments of brilliance (undermined by injury-inducing celebrations), Zlatan puts us on notice:
We won’t have the Zlatan to kick around much longer. Once his current contract with Milan is up, Ibra plans to move on.
And in typical Zlatan style, he makes this announcement just when his loss will be most felt: Guiding his team to the top of Italy, just over one week since he gave us this, what turned out to be the only goal against Fiorentina:
Even some of the haters were turning into lovers, but that will stop now. Just when people were willing to reopen their minds for a kinder, gentler, more productive Ibra, he has the great idea to announce his retirement right when the news would seem most spiteful. I know that’s not how he sees it. In fact, he might just be stating a fact, responding to an innocent if strangely timed question. But it still comes off as a nose-thumbing.
As published on FIFA’s web site:
In an interview with the latest issue of Italy's Vanity Fair, Ibrahimovic said: "How long do I intend to play? A maximum three (seasons). One should stop playing when you are at the top."
And he admits he is supremely confident in his game. He said: “Do I feel the strongest player in the world? Yes, I do.
“If you don’t think like that, you don’t go out on the pitch 100 per cent. For me, to be second doesn’t exist.”
Some people will read “second doesn’t exist” and say what have you done in Champions League? What have you done for Sweden? Both are common (if distorted) criticisms of detractors, people who overlook another remarkable if also abused note: The last time Ibrahimovic played on a team that didn’t finish first in their league was 2001-02. That was with Ajax - four teams ago. There’ve only been three times in his entire professional career (a career that started in 1999) when his club didn’t its league.
It’s those are the kind of inconsistencies make Zlatan’s retirement hint conflicting. And of course, that conflict is only augmented by the likelihood he will still be playing football come the Fall 2014. He’ll only be 33-years-old, and we’ve seen this story too many times to think Ibrahimovic will walk away like Zidane.
Whether he walks away or not, we should have seen this hint coming. It was the logical next step for Ibrahimovic. See how well I’m playing now? Well, savor it, because Zlatan will not player for much longer.
See More:
