Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that one of the reasons his playing career has been so long is because he is ‘never satisfied’ as he gave some insight into his mindset.
At the ripe age of 39, the Swede continues to prove the doubters wrong as he is having an excellent season with Milan, his second campaign since returning to the club in January 2020. He has 15 Serie A goals in the same amount of games, helping propel the Rossoneri into a title charge in the process.
Not only that, but Ibra has decided to return to the Swedish national team having made amends with the head coach, and last week he played his first game for his country since 2016, with two assists in two games already since his return.
Ibrahimovic gave an interview to the Champions Journal and spoke about his mentality, repeating his belief that he has been a stronger player since turning 30.
“I have a problem. I’m never satisfied. I’m 39 years old and with what I’ve done I might not work anymore and still have a great life from now on, but I always have this great passion for what I do,” he said (via MilanNews).
“I always want more. Maybe that’s why I always am. here and able to do what I am doing. I do not see many players doing what I do at my age. After 30 years usually the waning phase for a player begins and retirement comes. After 30 I have become even stronger.”
When asked if it is easier to train a lion or Ibra, Zlatan replies: “You can tame a lion, but you cannot tame Zlatan – he is a different animal.” Still on the animal theme, Ibra has no doubts about who would win in a fight with King King: “I would destroy him 100%”.
Ibra then spoke about the cruciate ligament injury he suffered at Manchester United, which some thought might end his career.
“It took me a year to get back to feeling alive. I’ll be honest, the work I did was boring. It was a mental job I wasn’t used to. I’m used to to working with the ball. I spent my time wondering when I was going to get out and if I had reached the end of my career. Luckily I had people around me who encouraged me to move on and not get lazy. ‘You have to do it, you have to do it’, they kept repeating to me, and in the end I made it and felt alive again.”
