Zlatan Ibrahimovic Teases 'Coming Back' to Spain
Kelvin Kuo/USA Today Sports
LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed to his fans that he will be "coming back" to Spain.
The charismatic Swede, who spent two years on the books at Barcelona between 2009 and 2011, finds himself out of contract at the end of December and there has been a lot of talk about what his next move could be.
Ibrahimovic took to his Instagram story to excite his fans, saying in a short clip: "Hola España! Guess what? I'm coming back."
However, he did not mention in what capacity, and if anyone remembers what he pulled prior to the World Cup and teasing a potential return with Sweden that never materialized only to "go to the World Cup" with one of his sponsors, you'd be wise to consider this with some skepticism. There are plenty of possible suggestions as to what he actually means, the vast majority of which have absolutely nothing to do with football. Of course, a return to play in Spain is possible.
Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid would likely be able to afford a deal to please the high-earning Swede, but, at 38 and unlikely to supplant any of the starters at any of those clubs, he does not fit the mold of a prospective signing.
In terms of his actual next move, a return to Serie A has been suggested as a likely option for Ibrahimovic. Napoli is thought to be leading the race for his signature, after club president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed to Sky Sports that he was seriously interested in striking a deal.
"[Ibrahimovic] is a friend, I met him in Los Angeles not as a footballer but as a normal person because we were in the same hotel," De Laurentiis explained.
"I invited him over for dinner with his wife and kids and we had an amazing time. It would be my wish to see him in Napoli colors, it's more than a suggestion and it depends on him. It's been talked about for a few months now."
Ibrahimovic himself even talked up the potential of a move to Napoli, revealing he would like to follow in the footsteps of Diego Maradona.
"I appreciated the last documentary dedicated to [Diego Armando] Maradona; nobody is like him," Ibrahimovic explained. "Seeing the passion and love of that city almost makes me want to try out an experience in Naples: it would be fantastic to replicate what Diego did.
"I'm not saying I'll be going there, the final decision will depend on many factors, but it's a city that creates a lot of enthusiasm. With me, the San Paolo would sell out every week. And [Napoli boss Carlo] Ancelotti is there, he's a football great."
