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Did Zlatan Ibrahimovic really choose LA Galaxy over big money in China?

By Brad Berreman

CARSON, CA - MARCH 31: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Los Angeles Galaxy gets interviewed by Fox Sports after the MLS match between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at StubHub Center on March 31, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - MARCH 31: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Los Angeles Galaxy gets interviewed by Fox Sports after the MLS match between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at StubHub Center on March 31, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivered big in his debut for the LA Galaxy, but he apparently turned down a huge contract in China before making the move.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic entered his debut for the LA Galaxy last Saturday in the second half of the match, but he made an instant impact. He delivered the tying goal on a 40-foot boot, then headed home the game-winner in stoppage time to complete the Galaxy’s comeback over Los Angeles FC.

Leading up to his arrival, during his debut and after that match, Ibrahimovic has lived up to his reputation on and off the field. He seems like a perfect fit for Hollywood, and his two-year, $3 million deal will be a value for the Galaxy if the 36-year-old can stay healthy and deliver something close to expected.

But the lure of playing in the United States, and in the MLS, apparently came at a sizable price for Ibrahimovic. According to Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, citing Galaxy technical director Jovan Kirovski, Ibrahimovic turned down a multi-year offer from a club in China which would have paid him $100 million.

So the price of American-style soccer glory was $97 million for Ibrahimovic. But there are reasons to be skeptical of a $100 million offer from a Chinese club, as outlined by Forbes contributing writer Steve Price, including most notably rumored big offers that never come to fruition and without the specific club mentioned.

Chinese sports insider Mark Dreyer took it a step further, questioning the legitimacy of Kirovski as a source.

For Kirovski, who Wahl cited as doing “most of the work to sign Ibrahimovic,” advancing the idea there was a substantial offer out there from elsewhere benefits him and the Galaxy. The next time they are looking to bring in a big name from overseas, the Galaxy can point to Zlatan taking far less to come to Los Angeles as a precedent.

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That said, Ibrahimovic has surely made more than enough money as an international soccer star to not have to choose a new club based strictly on that. And who needs an extra $97 million, legitimate or not, anyway?

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