he'll stay, going nowhere
Best thing explaining his situation I've read. Probably didn't feel good for Ibra getting just a 1 year contract in the first place, meaning the club doesn't have faith in him. But I'm wondering, who's idea the 1+1 was? The club's or the player's? Why didn't he get a 2+1 from the start?This smacks of posturing by Raiola and Ibrahimović for a longer deal than simple 1 year rolling extensions - where the club has all the power and he can be cut and sent to pasture on short notice. He knows full well that this is his last stint at a club that might reach the very top in the near future, so he'll want a greater show of faith than - 'ok Zlatan, we need you now, but as soon as we figure out a longer term solution, we'll send you packing'. On some level, the lack of a European Cup must really sting his ego, and he knows that might not come next season for United, or even in the season after that.
And now he has great leverage on the basis of his productivity - as opposed to last season because no other elite club would've realistically taken a chance on him for a prominent role in the XI at this stage of his career. Zlatan doesn't want to spend the last couple years of his career at Napoli unless he's forced to, IMO - it's a red herring because his signing would rip their wage structure to shreds. And definitely not some glue factory like China or the MLS, unless it's a last resort.
Probably wants a 3 year contract with a provisional clause wherein he can retire upon winning the European Cup or atleast the Premier League - that's his ideal final signature move à la Cantona. Mourinho's bit about Zlatan deciding when he wants to retire on his terms (like Maldini and Zanetti in the past) kinda alludes to that, too.
I'm certain it was the boards decision. I'm sure after the Falcao situation they'd have been hugely wary about committing £25m to a player whose ageing and hasn't played in the PL before coming from the French league.Best thing explaining his situation I've read. Probably didn't feel good for Ibra getting just a 1 year contract in the first place, meaning the club doesn't have faith in him. But I'm wondering, who's idea the 1+1 was? The club's or the player's? Why didn't he get a 2+1 from the start?
This is strange. Does sound like I am better than the rest of the pack, which is not exactly a team player's spirit, is it? Zlatan is paid well, he is 35, I do not think we owe him anything. A true leader will blame himself first if his team do not qualify for CL.If he does leave this summer it will take the shine off his time here a bit for me personally.
I think it all hinges on Champions League qualification as Zlatan himself said a couple of months back that he has met his requirements on his side so im guessing its now up to United to make sure we qualify for the Champions League.
True plus depends where he ends up if he does leave this summer.This is strange. Does sound like I am better than the rest of the pack, which is not exactly a team player's spirit, is it? Zlatan is paid well, he is 35, I do not think we owe him anything. A true leader will blame himself first if his team do not qualify for CL.
Exact same thing was said in the summer after his great season at PSG. You are simply guessing here.I'm not bothered if he leaves, but only if we sign a dynamic striker in the mould of Griezmann or Dybala.
Zlatan leaving could be a bit like Ruud leaving in 2007. We might be a more fluid unit without him. But that depends on the quality of striker we bring in as a replacement.
He's not a robot, by the way. He will not be able to replicate this season next year. 6 months is a big difference at his age, so we can't be replying on a 36 year old to carry us forward next season. Players can suddenly become old over one summer.
You can already see him struggling in some games, with his end product bailing him out.Exact same thing was said in the summer after his great season at PSG. You are simply guessing here.
Why not stay and go for the title next year? he's won the league in every other country he's played in surely.I think he'll leave after this season. He's proven to everyone that he can do it in England. Staying one more year the expectations will be even higher, yet he will probably struggle to have the same impact at the age of 36. It makes too much sense for him to just step down, keep his reputation and earn even more money in the MLS or China.
He'll be 36. Maybe he can keep going on the same way, but at some point soon he's bound to have a drop in quality. And he seems to be the kind of character who sets himself very high standards and doesn't want to tarnish his reputation by keep on playing just for the sake of it.Why not stay and go for the title next year? he's won the league in every other country he's played in surely.
A pay rise? Isn't he on upwards of £300k here? There's not many around who can pay that, let alone even more than that. I don't see him going to Madrid, and he's already been at PSG. Who else could pay that sort of money?Raiola sees the uncertainty around how our season will finish and how well Zlatan is doing. He knows he can get Zlatan a pay rise and probably earn a million or so himself for the brokering.
I don't think he is on £300k +A pay rise? Isn't he on upwards of £300k here? There's not many around who can pay that, let alone even more than that. I don't see him going to Madrid, and he's already been at PSG. Who else could pay that sort of money?
Ibra knows better than anybody that the outcome of this scenario is in his hands.This smacks of posturing by Raiola and Ibrahimović for a longer deal than simple 1 year rolling extensions - where the club has all the power and he can be cut and sent to pasture on short notice. He knows full well that this is his last stint at a club that might reach the very top in the near future, so he'll want a greater show of faith than - 'ok Zlatan, we need you now, but as soon as we figure out a longer term solution, we'll send you packing'. On some level, the lack of a European Cup must really sting his ego, and he knows that might not come next season for United, or even in the season after that.
And now he has great leverage on the basis of his productivity - as opposed to last season because no other elite club would've realistically taken a chance on him for a prominent role in the XI at this stage of his career. Zlatan doesn't want to spend the last couple years of his career at Napoli unless he's forced to, IMO - it's a red herring because his signing would rip their wage structure to shreds. And definitely not some glue factory like China or the MLS, unless it's a last resort.
Probably wants a 3 year contract with a provisional clause wherein he can retire upon winning the European Cup or atleast the Premier League - that's his ideal final signature move à la Cantona. Mourinho's bit about Zlatan deciding when he wants to retire on his terms (like Maldini and Zanetti in the past) kinda alludes to that, too.
I have no doubt that he would be hurt by not having won the Champions League, but if that really is a factor he would never have joined us in the first place when he was already at PSG. Is there a credible CL challenger that would take him?This smacks of posturing by Raiola and Ibrahimović for a longer deal than simple 1 year rolling extensions - where the club has all the power and he can be cut and sent to pasture on short notice. He knows full well that this is his last stint at a club that might reach the very top in the near future, so he'll want a greater show of faith than - 'ok Zlatan, we need you now, but as soon as we figure out a longer term solution, we'll send you packing'. On some level, the lack of a European Cup must really sting his ego, and he knows that might not come next season for United, or even in the season after that.
And now he has great leverage on the basis of his productivity - as opposed to last season because no other elite club would've realistically taken a chance on him for a prominent role in the XI at this stage of his career. Zlatan doesn't want to spend the last couple years of his career at Napoli unless he's forced to, IMO - it's a red herring because his signing would rip their wage structure to shreds. And definitely not some glue factory like China or the MLS, unless it's a last resort.
Probably wants a 3 year contract with a provisional clause wherein he can retire upon winning the European Cup or atleast the Premier League - that's his ideal final signature move à la Cantona. Mourinho's bit about Zlatan deciding when he wants to retire on his terms (like Maldini and Zanetti in the past) kinda alludes to that, too.