Zlatan Ibrahimovic Thinks the Saudi Pro League is not the ‘Big Stage’ and Criticizes High-Profile Players Moving to the Middle East
Former Ajax, Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has aimed a dig at high-profile players who moved to the Saudi Pro League last summer by questioning their motivations behind joining the Gulf state’s project.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile move last January has seen the floodgates open with the acquisitions of Neymar, Benzema, Sadio Mane, and N’Golo Kante, among a flurry of other marquee signings.
Ibrahimovic indicated that he turned down offers from China and Saudi Arabia at the tail end of his career before he retired last June. He rejected these entreats because he wanted to preserve his legacy.
Talking to Piers Morgan on the Uncensored show, Ibrahimovic said, “I had an offer also from China. I had an offer also from Saudi, but the situation is, what do you want?”
“You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned. Because if you were remembered in the opposite way, what we are training every day for, what we are being recognized for, is our talent, and that’s what you want to be remembered for.
“So I think certain players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage, and that’s the big stage.”
Ibrahimovic added that he understands players who have not had much financial success in their careers making the jump, but he did not get the marquee players who are already top earners in the world making the move.
