In the run up to the first-ever "El Tráfico" – tha name fans have given the MLS derby between LA Galaxy and LAFC – the media hype focused on the Galaxy's recent acquisition of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Certainly Zlatan did little to dissuade the attention, quipping at a press conference that it feels good to be better than the four billion, or so, other footballers in the world.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived in Los Angeles last week and has wasted no time in reaching peak levels of Zlatanocity.
To start, there was the full-page, five-word ad he took out in the LA Times to announce his arrival. Then there was his first training session with the club, during which he had to be dragged away from shooting practice so that he might remain fresh for this Saturday's LA derby.
The LA Galaxy announced that Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available for training this Friday and could make his Galaxy debut on Saturday in the LA Clasico (a.k.a. El Trafico).
LA Galaxy announces Zlatan Ibrahimovic will train with team on Friday and be available for selection on Saturday vs LAFC on big FOX.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) March 28, 2018
For the last two months, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reportedly been on the verge of joining Major League Soccer. For the last two months, he has not. However, with less than four months remaining on his Manchester United contract and with Jose Mourinho more than obliging with regards to letting the Swede go, it’s only a matter of time until we see Ibrahimovic in MLS (the Los Angeles Galaxy being the ultimate destination).
The18.com knows you don't have time to waste when it comes to your soccer news. That's why we've created the fastest rundown in soccer. Greg Ellis takes you through 18 different soccer topics, and spends 18 seconds on each. This time he goes over Cristiano Ronaldo's potential break up with Real Madrid, World Cup mascots, and the most mispronounced soccer names and much more. If you liked this episode Watch Episode 3 of 18 Things in 18 Seconds.
With 102 appearances, 18 goals and as a veteran of two World Cups, history is on Giovani dos Santos’ side. However, his play on the field over the last year and a half makes his inclusion in Mexico’s 2018 World Cup squad, by Juan Carlos Osorio’s own stated standards, a real doubt.
When Dos Santos arrived in MLS in 2016, his initial return of 14 goals, 12 assists and a place in the MLS Best XI seemed to fully justify a Designated Player salary of $5.5 million per year.
LAFC made a stirring debut in Major League Soccer on Sunday, winning 1-0 at Seattle thanks to a beautiful goal from Diego Rossi set up by Carlos Vela. It was a superb piece of play from Bob Bradley’s two designated players and the perfect way to kick off the new franchise. But that win was nothing compared to the recent LA derby victory.
Much of the talk surrounding LAFC’s inaugural season centers on how the other club in L.A. will react. Based on a recent friendly between the two, LAFC is well on its way to being the best in Southern California.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic endeared himself to Manchester United fans during the 2016-17 season, scoring 28 goals in 46 appearances. As the season ended and Zlatan’s contract with the Red Devils neared its conclusion, an entrepreneurial United fan took it upon himself to re-sign the Swedish striker, offering up his wife in exchange for Ibrahimovic’s signature.
In November of 2016, months after signing a one-year contract with Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic outlined his vision of one-upping Napoleon by accomplishing what the Emperor of the French could not: "I can see myself conquering the U.S. as I have with Europe. Lots of people stay in one place throughout their career, but I’ve travelled around like Napoleon, and conquered every new country where I’ve sat foot.