Zlatan Ibrahimovic's follies revealed in LA Galaxy's locker room

The arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic represented a real bombshell for the Major League Soccer, because although the Swedish striker was criticized for choosing the American league to return to activity, after the injury suffered during his time at Manchester United, he showed that he remained current and dominated the MLS alongside the LA Galaxy, a team that witnessed some of the ‘Swedish Lion’ characteristics madness.

Zlatan was announced as a reinforcement of the Los Angeles team for the 2018 season and his impact was immediate, because even one of his first goals, registered against LAFC, was chosen as the ‘Best goal in the history of MLS’, so the forward left an indelible mark not only on the pitch, but also off it.

The Athletic unveiled this Tuesday, some of the peculiarities that Ibrahimovic left during his time in the United States, among which stand out presenting himself as “God” before his companions, and even changing the name of one of them.

“Believe in God? You believe in me”

Zlatan was living his first moments as the footballer of the top winner in MLS history, when true to his style, He presented himself in a peculiar way before the astonished gaze of his new companionsAfter his presentation to the media, Ibrahimovic walked to the locker room with Sigi Schmid, then LA Galaxy coach, and gave his first words to the players with whom he would share a team.

“Do you believe in God?”Zlatan asked in the center of the dressing room. In the background, some of the younger players nodded to the question, something to which the Swede replied: “Okay. Then believe in me “, and then leave, to the surprise of his new companions.

The first brushstrokes of ‘Ibracadabra’ came in just his first MLS game, when he entered the exchange to make his debut in the Traffic Classic and score a double that won the LA Galaxy over LAFC, in one of the most remembered games in the recent history of MLS and that would be just the preamble of what Zlatan would leave in his time in the North American league.

“The baptism” of a companion

Since his arrival in MLS, Zlatan has been in charge of dominating at will in and out of the LA Galaxy dressing room and the power granted was of such magnitude, that iHe even had the luxury of “baptizing” one of his teammates, as various versions indicate that the former Barcelona striker was in charge of naming the then Galaxy midfielder, Perry Kitchen, as “Kevin” and so the player himself remembers.

“Zlatan spoke and said something like 'in these games we must be stronger, like Kevin and he pointed at me. I would turn around to make sure there was no other Kevin around me and I said: 'My name is Kevin, it's just above my locker' “, to which Zlatan replied:” Yes, you are Kevin. “the American recalled laughing.

The dressing room was afraid of Zlatan

Zlatan's passage through LA Galaxy was negatively marked by not being able to lift the MLS Cup and also, some versions point to the bad relationship he had with some of his teammates, because on some occasion the USMNT national team, Sebastian Lletget He criticized the European's way of being, something that former LA Galaxy player Chris Pontius confirmed, even assuring that inside the dressing room, Zlatan generated fear.

“Some of his own teammates were terrified. At the end of the day, he holds everyone to a higher standard in order to win. This is how it is. But he did cross the line with his teammates, anyone will tell you, ”said Pontius.

Your goodbye

“I came, looked and conquered, I gave them Zlatan … Now go back to watching baseball”, Were the farewell words of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after a couple of seasons in Major League Soccer, before his return to AC Milan was confirmed, a club that at the age of 39, he guided his return to the Champions League, after finish in second place in Serie A.

Zlatan ended his time in American football with a balance of 53 goals in 58 games and he will be remembered as one of the best footballers to make it to MLS in all of its history, despite failing to win the title with the LA Galaxy.