When Zlatan Ibrahimovic was asked to name the “most complete defender” he had ever played alongside during his playing career, he did not mention Rio Ferdinand or John Terry.
Although Ibrahimovic, who is 43 years old, was able to defeat even the best defenders on occasion, there were some centre backs who were able to push him to his limits.
Before calling it quits in 2023, the Swede had a trophy-filled playing career, during which he played for a number of illustrious clubs, including Juventus, Ajax, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Manchester United. He finished his career with 496 goals and 202 assists in 827 club appearances.
When it comes to attackers, he has played with and against some of the very best, such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, when it comes to defenders, which five players did he name as the “strongest,” and which one did he call “the most complete” defender he played with and against?
It is possible that the names Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, and Sergio Ramos come to mind; however, none of these players made it into Zlatan’s top five.
During an interview with Corriere TV in 2021, Ibrahimovic stated, “There are many, if one played in Italy, he played against many strong defenders.” Milan News reported that Ibrahimovic made this statement.
There was no video assistant referee (VAR) back then, and the defenders were even worse.
The names that come to mind are Paolo Maldini, Nesta, Stam, Chiellini, and Thiago Silva, if I were forced to name them.
“When I was playing with him [Silva], I said that I have an Ibrahimovic in defence,” he explained further.
When it came to defence, he was the most comprehensive; he was able to handle everything. In addition to that, we went to Paris together, and we triumphed together. He is an outstanding defender.
The pair played together on 195 occasions, with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan being the two teams that they played for. The Brazilian is still playing for Fluminense in his home country, despite having left Chelsea, a Premier League club, at the conclusion of the 2023–2024 season.
Silva, who is now 40 years old, signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, the same year that Zlatan did. When he found out that they were going to be meeting in Paris, he divulged the words that the Swede had spoken to him.
When asked about his signing with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, Silva stated, “Zlatan called me immediately after I signed with PSG to ask if I had really signed.”
He responded with, “No joke, eh? ” when I said yes. “If you do not go, I will not sign, and if you lie to me, I will come and get you because I will not sign.”
