Zlatan Ibrahimovic rules out leaving LA Galaxy to join Manchester United or AC Milan on loan in January
The 37-year-old is firmly committed to MLS but warned he expects his team to be contenders next season
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ruled out the possibility of joining a European club on loan in January, insisting he has no desire to shift his focus from LA Galaxy.
AC Milan and Manchester United have both been touted as potential destinations during the MLS off-season for Ibrahimovic, who scored 22 goals in 27 league appearances for the Galaxy but was unable to lead them to a playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Many former MLS stars, including David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, enjoyed short-term loan spells in Europe but Ibrahimovic insists he has no desire to do the same.
“If I belong to Galaxy, I am a Galaxy player,” he said. “I don't go abroad and do these things – loan and this... I don't need that.
“I mean if I belong to one club, I stay in one club. I focus on that club and I give all my attention to that club, so that is not in my mind.”
Ibrahimovic’s playoff hopes ended in agonising fashion on the final day of the MLS season, as the Galaxy allowed a two-goal lead to slip in a 3-2 defeat to Houston Dynamo.
His current contract expires in 2019 and while Ibrahimovic wants to stay in Los Angeles, he warned that he expects the team to do what it takes to turn themselves into true MLS contenders.
“For me to return, I want to be able to challenge for the trophy,” the 37-year-old added. “I am not here for a vacation. I am here for the challenge.
“I want to feel I have a chance to be the best in MLS – my team, not me, because I am the best. I want to feel my team against the other ones.
“In the long term, I don't know how it looks like. It is new for me – I am here six or seven months. But the club knows all my wishes and all my demands. It is up to them what they want.
“But they are positive and they have been very good to me. They have helped me and my family with whatever I need. Let's say I am not worried.”
Speaking to reporters, Galaxy president Chris Klein confirmed that he will do what he can to ensure Ibrahimovic remains with the team.
“Our plan is to have Zlatan back with the club,” Klein said. “What he did this year is certainly well documented, from the impact he had on our team with 22 goals and 10 assists.
“He wants to win and we want to win with him, so our intention is to bring him back and have him as part of our club for 2019.
“We are having conversations. I know that he has certain things that he wants and as a club, it is a priority for us to keep him here.”
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