Insult to injury.
David De Gea had a rollercoaster end to the 2022/23 season and Zlatan Ibrahimovic just inadvertently provided him with one more queasy dip.
The Swedish international brought down the curtain on his playing career, at the age of 41, last weekend and was given a rousing send-off by AC Milan fans. He told the supporters at San Siro:
“From my heart I want to thank you fans. You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home… It is time top say goodbye to football, but not to you. I will always be a Milan fan.”
The retirement of Ibrahimovic has led to his all-time XI of teammates being shared around again, and it is not a great look for De Gea. The dream team selection was made in 2018 when the Swede was promoting his book ‘I Am Zlatan’ and it is star-studded.
Given that Ibrahimovic played with Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, LA Galaxy, Manchester United, Barcelona and, of course, Sweden in his career, he had quite the selection to mull over. Andres Iniesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Fabio Cannavaro and Clarence Seedorf only making the bench tells you all you need to know.
Also on the bench was former Inter Milan and Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who got in at De Gea’s expense – the United and Spain goalkeeper scribbled out, for the world to see. First that, then Dean Henderson calling him out on talkSport and the Roy Keane slating him after an FA Cup powder-puff. There have certainly been some lows sprinkled in with the highs for De Gea.
Included in the best XI are Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Pavel Nedved, Lilliam Thuram and, of course, the man himself.
Of course, the No.1 in the teammates XI for Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Gianluigi Buffon, who is still playing with Parma at the age of 45.
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Although Parma failed to gain promotion to Serie A for next season, ‘Gigi’ Buffon is set to play on with them until at least June of 2024. Perhaps he could convince Zlatan Ibrahimovic to give it one more go in the second tier of Italian football.
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- House of Football: Ireland’s glimmer of hope, selfies with Roy and the art of free-kicks.
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- Man United line-up transfers for two strikers as alternatives to Harry Kane
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