Where could Zlatan fit in MLS?
The Sweden international has confirmed he will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and Major League Soccer could be the next destination for the star forward.
Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirmed he will be moving on after his club's final game of the season on Sunday (AEST), and his departure has opened the floodgates for rumours about possible destinations..
In his message to PSG fans, the 34-year-old said he "came like a king, leave like a legend." Now he has the opportunity to become a legend in Major League Soccer, a league that has been linked to the Sweden international for some time.
If there is truth to the rumours — and if his agents aren't just using MLS as a negotiating ploy to pump up the market value of their client — then there are certainly clubs that would make more sense for Ibrahimovic than others.
Here is a rundown of potential MLS destinations for the superstar:
LA Galaxy
With Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Giovani dos Santos on the books as its three designated players (DPs), Galaxy currently doesn't have room for Ibrahimovic under current league rules. But, if Gerrard chose to leave and go back to England then perhaps Galaxy could pull this one off. MLS could also change the DP rule and make it four per team (it wouldn't be the first time the league has changed a rule that wound up benefiting LA).
LAFC
This MLS expansion team is still two years away from playing. It has the owners and money to sign anyone they want when the time comes, but they're not ready to play yet so it isn't an option for Ibrahimovic. Now, if LAFC began early talks with an eye toward 2018, then that could explain the LA rumours, although Cristiano Ronaldo is another superstar the second LA team could also be interested in.
Miami
No, MLS doesn't have a team in Miami yet, but David Beckham is working to secure an expansion club there in the near future. MLS wouldn't arrive in Miami until 2018 at the earliest, which could work as a time frame for Ibrahimovic to arrive in MLS. A 2018 arrival makes more sense than this summer, especially with top European clubs still reportedly keen to sign him.
New York City FC
Currently featuring David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard as DPs, NYCFC could be in the Zlatan sweepstakes if Lampard were to retire by the summer. From a personnel standpoint, fitting Villa and Ibrahimovic together wouldn't be the most natural pairing, although Patrick Vieira might be one of the few coaches in MLS with the cache to handle working with the enigmatic striker.
New York Red Bulls
Thierry Henry's former team has taken a new approach to building its squad, and is no longer spending the big money it spent in the past on the likes of Henry, Tim Cahill and Rafa Marquez. Unless the team's parent company decided it couldn't pass on Zlatan because it could help energy drink sales, this team doesn't make much sense as a fit based on its current philosophy.
Seattle Sounders
From a practical standpoint, the Sounders make the most sense as a destination for Ibrahimovic. They have the money to spend, the fan base to make it appealing and the need for a star striker after Obafemi Martins left for China. There is no natural link between Ibrahimovic and Seattle though, and you wonder if he would consider it over more glamorous locations like New York and LA.