Swedish soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic sparked a firestorm for MLS soccer fans when it was revealed he had applied for an American Visa that – according to a newspaper – in his native country titled Aftonbladet would “allow for an indefinite stay in the US, not just as a tourist.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXmc9KXxfpo
While there has been no direct indication that Ibrahimovic would like to move to the US to play soccer, he has hinted at a possible move in the past telling Sports Illustrated last summer that he “will really think about it because I find it very interesting to come over to America because my friend Thierry Henry… talks a lot of positive about Major League Soccer, so it’s an interesting thing if the opportunity is still there in two to three years.”
The fact that MLSsoccer.com and Sky Sports have also reported the details has added fuel to the fire even though any potential move would likely have to wait until his contract with PSG runs out in 2016. It’s never too early to speculate about where the superstar could land so here are three of the most likely spots Ibrahimovic will end up.
The Suspension
Adding fuel to the potential fire is the fact that Ibrahimovic has shown his displeasure with Ligue 1 these days. He was recently suspended four games for a foul, which is – without a doubt – a harsh punishment for the crime. He’s been very outspoken and direct about the decision, publicly calling it ‘a farce’ and then reinforcing his beliefs when he was given an opportunity to recant.
There were rumors that Ibrahimovic might bolt for the U.S. anyway but now that he’s openly bashing Ligue 1, there could be smoke with this fire. It’s become more and more likely that he’ll bounce and find a league that better caters to him.
LA Galaxy
It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that a superstar like Ibrahimovic will end up with the most successful franchise in the MLS. From David Beckham to Steven Gerrard, the Galaxy have never shied away when it comes to an opportunity to pursue one of soccer’s biggest stars and with all of the buzz surrounding Ibrahimovic there is little doubt they will be in the mix to land him. The investments that LA has made over the years have certainly paid off with championships and a strong fan base that consistently fills the seat and if they get a chance to land Ibrahimovic they will undoubtedly make a substantial bid for his services.
New York Red Bulls
When Ibrahimovic spoke glowingly about the experience his friend Henry had in the MLS it did leave the impression that he himself would welcome an opportunity to play for the Red Bulls. New York has both the money and the market to attract a player of Ibrahimovic’s stature and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up following in Henry’s footsteps by eventually landing with the Red Bulls. The competition with New York City FC could make for an interesting battle for his services as well with both teams competing to be the better franchise in that market.
Miami
When news broke that Beckham had invested in an MLS club in Miami, it was clear they would one day become a serious player and at his inaugural press conference to announce the club’s plans he made sure to tell the fans that he would use all of his influence to try and attract the best talent from around Europe.
Ibrahimovic would arguably be the biggest name to join the MLS since Beckham himself did it in 2007 and what better way for Miami to kick off its inaugural season than with the biggest name in the league? Beckham will certainly be in conversations with Ibrahimovic to make a move to the MLS and if everything goes according to plan it won’t be a shock at all to see him end up in South Beach.
