Thiago Silva: Premier League a Step Down for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Brazilian international has stressed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s rumoured departure to England would actually be a bad career move, Sky Sports reports.

(Image credit: RTL)

“He is my good friend, but also at 34 he is playing the best football of his career,” said the 31-year-old central defender, before adding, “He is one of the best in the world, he is unique, there is not another player like him. Of course I want him to stay at PSG, I cannot imagine us without him.”

Silva also said that he’s aware Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plenty of suitors in England keeping track of him, but believes that the current state of football in the Premier League is not on par with the one they’re enjoying at the French capital. “I know he has offers from England – and it is a big league – but I don’t think there is a team in England that is at the level of PSG at the moment. For me it would be a step down in quality for him,” commented the four-time French champion.

Despite being 34 (he’ll turn 35 in October), Zlatan Ibrahimovic has notched 39 goals in all competitions this season, and he could bag in a few more before more before he leaves the Parisien club. His biggest goal tally for PSG and his entire career came in the 2013-14 season, when he found the back of the net 41 times across all competitions.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

In reference to his age, he said, “I have never been better. The way I feel today is the best I have ever been. I was born old and I will die young. That is how it looks. Age is just a number.” The Swede international stressed it’s all about the way you think of yourself, “You are as young as you think you are in your head. Your head decides how young you are and how old you are. So this year I decided I am very young.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s PSG are gearing up to face Man City away tonight in the quarter-final return leg of the Champions League, and Bet365 Sports ranks them as the favorites for the match 2.50 (6/4). Man City will be playing on their home ground, Etihad Stadium, however Bet365 has given them underdog chances 2.90 (19/10). After the first game finished 2-2, we believe another tie is also possible for this encounter 3.60 (13/5). (If you’d like to know more about the online sportsbook, check out the Bet365 Sports Review.)