Zlatan wasn’t overly affectionate towards his former side
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has criticised his former club Manchester United of having a ‘small, closed mentality’ in his new book called ‘Adrenaline.’ It comes after the larger-than-life character previously accused United of ‘living in the past.’
Ibrahimovic spent two years at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018, scoring 29 times in 53 appearances and winning the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League during his time in England.
However as reported by the Athletic, the 40-year-old opened up on his time at the club and didn’t hold back in his assessment, insisting that it isn’t quite what everyone thinks it is like.
“One thing surprised me: everyone thinks of United as a top club, one of the richest and most powerful in the world and seen from the outside it looked that way to me,” he said in his new book.
"Once I was there, I found a small, closed mentality."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic not particularly complimentary of #MUFC in his new book 'Adrenaline'… 😬 pic.twitter.com/EuNCGLiORj
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 4, 2021
The Curious Incident of the Juice in the Hotel Mini Bar
“But once I was there I found a small, closed mentality.”
The Sweden captain then recalled one particular incident in which he noticed a reduction on his monthly salary for a fruit juice he had taken from a mini bar when in a hotel – leaving Ibrahimovic less than happy.
“One day I was in the hotel with the team before a game. I got thirsty so I opened the mini-bar and had a fruit juice,” he wrote.
“We played and then went home. Some time went by. My pay slip arrives. Normally I don’t look at it. I only do so at the end of the year to see what’s come in and what’s gone out.
“But that time, I don’t know why, I was curious and realised they’d taken a pound off my monthly wage.”
Ibrahimovic called the team manager and here, to the Swede’s recollection, is how the conversation played out.
IBRAHIMOVIC: Excuse me, why have they taken a pound off my salary?
TEAM MANAGER: It was the fruit juice from the mini-bar
IBRAHIMOVIC: Are you kidding? Seriously?
TEAM MANAGER: No, I’m not. Here, if you order something you have to pay for it.
IBRAHIMOVIC: Sure, but I didn’t go to the hotel on my own accord. I wasn’t on holiday. It was my work place. I was there for Manchester. If I have to play and I’m thirsty, I have to drink. I can’t go on the pitch dehydrated.
The current AC Milan forward went on to add that such a thing would never happen in the country he is playing in at present and that he didn’t feel the respect from others when at United.
He said: “Can you believe it? A quid? Something like that would never happen in Italy. These are the details that make a difference and earn the respect of the players.
“Every day I was asked to show my papers just to get into the training ground. I’d lower my window and say to the person at the gate: ‘Listen my friend I’ve been coming here every day for a month. I’m the best player in the world. If you still don’t recognise me, you’re in the wrong job.’”
Related links:
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals he told Kylian Mbappe to leave PSG
- Ibrahimovic: Man United need to stop living in the past
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains why he floored Azpilicueta with vicious off-ball shoulder charge
