Ibrahimovic’s bad boy image and antics seem problematic to the Qatari owners of the club
As Paris Saint-Germain gears up for the final sprint to the finish in the French league, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is becoming a problem for the defending champions. The Sweden international remains the biggest star of the league but is going through his worse season in the French capital, having played just 29 matches in all competitions so far with an average ratio of 0.69 goal per game, compared to 0.89 last term when he bagged 41 goals.
A heel injury forced the 33-year-old forward to miss seven weeks in the autumn and his impact on PSG’s performances has been limited. Laurent Blanc’s team even achieved its most notable result without him, when PSG eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League last week at Stamford Bridge after Ibrahimovic was sent off for a rough tackle in the 31st minute.
Four days later, Ibrahimovic’s brace at Bordeaux was not enough to prevent PSG from slumping to its third league defeat, and his goals were overshadowed by his offensive post-match rant against the referee that is likely to cost him a four-game suspension.
“Zlatan has a difficult season, with injuries and suspensions,” Blanc said. “Hopefully his sanction won’t be too heavy and he will be able to show everybody that he remains an astounding player.”
More than his mediocre displays on the pitch, which could only be temporary struggles, it’s Ibrahimovic’s bad boy image and antics that now seem problematic to the Qatari owners of the club, who have cleaned up PSG’s controversial reputation of being a club with a strong base of racist hooligans since taking over.
For now, Ibrahimovic remains an essential piece of Blanc’s tactical puzzle. The club’s other strikers — Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck — are not contesting his supremacy in the dressing room and Ibrahimovic, whose deal with PSG runs through the 2015-16 season, is expected to lead PSG’ attack today against Lorient.
But Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, has warned that he could leave if he was to lose too much of his influence.
“Zlatan will extend his contract only if he can give his best,” Raiola told L’Equipe newspaper. “He won’t be a substitute who can come in during a match, help the team in the dressing room. Either he is the best player in the team, or he is nothing.” Samuel Petrequin, Paris, AP
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