Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a worldwide splash when announcing his arrival with the LA Galaxy, including a tweet that featured him arm-wrestling the devil, another where he faces off with a lion and a full-page advertisement in the LA Times that simply said: “Dear Los Angeles, you’re welcome.”
Veteran Chris Wondolowski of the rival San Jose Earthquakes has a different welcome message, according to Center Line Soccer.
“I hope he helps the Galaxy finish seventh,” the Quakes captain said following training Saturday.
Wondo might have thrown some shade, but fellow Swede Magnus Eriksson, who is quick to point out Ibrahimovic’s antics are unique to Zlatan — “It’s not a Swedish ego, it’s more a Zlatan ego” — was a bit more diplomatic about the legend joining MLS.
“It’s great,” Eriksson said. “Big news here, and big news back home in Sweden. He’s a big name player.”
While all eyes are on the first matchup between the LA Galaxy and LAFC coming up Saturday afternoon (3 pm ET | FOX), the Cali Clasico will certainly have added spice this year with the first meeting coming May 25 at StubHub Center and the return leg at Stanford Stadium on June 30.
“I hope nothing but the best for him,” Wondolowski added. “It’s a good sign for the league and he can still play at a high level. I wish we had already played them twice so we don’t have to face him, but it’s still a good thing.”
