Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s time at Paris Saint-Germain led him to believe the club had too many stars not making enough sacrifices. He felt PSG only used half of their potential but still managed to win. Ibrahimovic believed that the weakness at the top of the pyramid was reflected throughout the club.
Ibrahimovic’s Advice to Mbappe
At Marco Verratti’s wedding, Kylian Mbappe sought advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who suggested he should go to Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic told Mbappe to get to know a club with a different philosophy and different codes of conduct. PSG’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, was not pleased when he learned of Ibrahimovic’s recommendation.
Mbappe would eventually move to Real Madrid, but only after PSG had become a different club. They had become the club Ibrahimovic wanted.
Lack of Discipline at PSG
Ibrahimovic felt PSG lacked discipline. He claimed that if there were more rigour, everyone would run on the pitch and no one would be late to training. According to Ibrahimovic, no one would be allowed to do whatever they wanted if he were in charge.
Ibrahimovic didn’t believe Leonardo, the sporting director at the time, was imposing enough. He claimed that if a coach tried to lay down the law and a player didn’t like it, the player would complain to Al-Khelaifi.
Ibrahimovic summarised his view of PSG: “Do they pay your wages? Yes. Do they win the league? Yes. Is life good in Paris? Yes. There are 40 players, but none of them want to leave, even if they don’t play, because life there is just too good.”
Al-Khelaifi’s Perspective
Al-Khelaifi has authorised €2.5billion in signings since Qatar Sports Investments acquired the club 15 years ago. PSG broke the world transfer record for Neymar and signed Lionel Messi. Al-Khelaifi told CBS that his best decision was hiring Luis Enrique.
Luis Enrique brought the discipline and rigour Ibrahimovic believed Mbappe needed to leave for Madrid to find. Mbappe experienced this firsthand during his year with Enrique at PSG.
Ibrahimovic claimed to offer himself as a sporting director. He details in his book Adrenaline that he believed Leonardo wasn’t imposing enough.
- Ibrahimovic believed PSG lacked discipline.
- He suggested Mbappe should go to Real Madrid.
- Al-Khelaifi authorised €2.5billion in signings.
Al-Khelaifi’s best decision was hiring Luis Enrique who delivered the discipline and rigour Ibrahimovic believed Mbappe needed to leave for Madrid to find.