Zlatan Ibrahimovic Teases New Club Yet Again - But Is it Just Another Publicity Stunt?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic loves using the media circus that surrounds him to his personal advantage. It is why he teased in October that he was ‘coming back’ to Spain, sending speculation through the roof, only for it to later be revealed as a promotion for a gambling company.


Now, the 38-year-old, who has already confirmed he will not be returning to LA Galaxy in 2020 for a third season in Major League Soccer, has provided the latest tease on his future. But is there anything of substance in it this time or is it more of the same?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic has widely been tipped to head back to Italy, where he has previously spent time with Juventus, Inter and Milan. China has also been a rumoured destination, while Jose Mourinho has now ruled out a reunion for the pair at Tottenham Hotspur.

There has even been talk of a return to Sweden, where Zlatan last played club football for home-town club Malmo way back in 2001.

But while few might have been surprised by a Malmo return, the ex-Manchester United star has tweeted a video showing his name on a Hammarby shirt, tagging the club in the process.

Hammarby are based in a district of Stockholm, but are not exactly among the historic elite of Swedish football. Their only top-flight league title came in 2001 and they have not long returned to the Allsvenskan from the second division.

That being said, Hammarby are among the contenders to win the title in 2020. Despite winning league titles in Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France, Ibrahimovic never managed it in Sweden.

Hammarby coach Stefan Billborn has already expressed doubt, though. He told one media outlet soon after Ibrahimovic’s tweet, “I guess it’s some kind of joke thing…I'd be really surprised if Zlatan came to us, I don't believe it.”

FBL-SWE-CELEBRITY-STATUE-ZLATAN-MLS

There are all kinds of theories already being mooted over the real explanation. One is that Ibrahimovic could be buying a stake in Hammarby, who are actually already part-owned by LA Galaxy’s parent company AEG. Another is a marketing/commercial partnership, while it has also been suggested that one or more of his sons could be joining Hammarby’s youth ranks.


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Source : 90min