Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he could have moved to another Serie A club from LA Galaxy before rejoining AC Milan.
The 40-year-old Swedish legend was a rip-roaring success across the pond, making the MLS his playground during a year-and-a-half stint for Galaxy, during which time he bagged 53 goals in 58 games between 2018 and 2019.
Despite being very much in the twilight years of his career, Ibrahimovic decided to have one last crack at major European football, rejoining Milan last year, whom he represented with distinction between 2010 and 2012.
Since relocating to the San Siro, Ibrahimovic has shown that he is certainly not past his peak, with the veteran marksman having netted 34 goals in 59 games, including six in Serie A this season across just nine appearances.
He continues to be as influential as ever for the Rossoneri as Stefano Pioli’s men look to capitalise on Juventus’ recent demise and clinch the Scudetto, which currently adorns the jersey of Milan’s great rivals Inter, winners of Serie A last season.
Milan are currently second in the table and just one point below current league leaders Napoli, whom Ibrahimovic has since revealed he nearly joined after leaving the United States, but a managerial change in the Partenopei dugout reversed his decision.
“Maradona is a legend,” Ibrahimovic said. “I watched a documentary about him and decided to go to Napoli, to do like Diego: win the Scudetto.
“I was tired of America. I thought I would quit. Raiola told me: ‘You’re crazy, you have to go back to Italy’.
“It had reached an agreement with Napoli, but then [President Aurelio] De Laurentiis kicked out [Carlo] Ancelotti.
“I asked Mino: ‘Which team is worse off, that I can change?’ He replied: ‘Yesterday, Milan lost 5-0 in Bergamo’. It was decided, I said: ‘Let’s go to Milan. It’s a club I know, a city I like’.”