When it comes to the Manchester Derby, both the clash on the pitch and the tunnel fracas that ensued afterward are now over. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues the war, now via words. The Manchester United striker has once again taken aim at Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Ibrahimovic played under Guardiola at Barcelona from 2009 until 2010. In an interview today with Sky Sport Italia, Ibra called the City Manager the most immature person that he’s ever played under.
“The first six months were perfect, then the manager changed system, tactics and it didn’t work for me. I went to talk to him. I’m here to talk, if you think it’s for another reason then we can’t talk,” Ibrahimovic said.
“I said: ‘I believe that you are sacrificing some players for one player, Messi.’ He said: ‘I don’t think this is the case but I understand what you say. I will take care of it, no problem. I will solve everything.’ I thought it would be OK.”
“The following game I was on the bench. I don’t say anything, I work,” he continued.
“Second match, bench again. I thought he solved it well and he was not talking to me or explaining. Third match, bench. Then the fourth match comes and bench again.”
“I think something is strange.”
“From that moment he stopped talking to me, looking at me. I go into a room and he walks out of it. He was not a bad person, but the most immature (boss) I’ve had because a man solves his problems.”
Damn! Shots fired!
Ibrahimovic came to the Nou Camp in 2009 from Inter Milan, and as you can see from the quotes above, was ultimately frustrated that he didn’t receive consistent first-team football. It was clear that Lionel Messi was to be the alpha dog at the Catalan club.
The Swede scored 16 goals in 23 starts and 29 appearances during his time at Barca under Guardiola. This is not the first time that Ibrahimovic has thrown major shade at the Spaniard. In his book “I am Zlatan,” he called Guardiola a “spineless coward.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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