Zlatan Ibrahimovic: I Asked Barcelona For Real Madrid Move But They Said No

Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 by Goal.com

Further controversial comments have arrived via the striker's autobiography and this time he speaks of the moment the Spanish champions were told he wanted a move to the Bernabeu

AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he asked Barcelona if he could join Real Madrid when his time at Camp Nou came to an abrupt end last year.

Ibrahimovic has been highly critical of his time at Barcelona, whom he joined in 2009 from Inter.

A fall-out with coach Pep Guardiola ultimately led to his exit in 2010 and he joined AC Milan.

In his autobiography, however, Ibrahimovic says he tried to force a move to Barcelona's eternal rivals Madrid, but that the bid crumbled in a heated exchange with president Sandro Rosell.

In an extract of his book, as published by AS, the striker writes: "The president said: 'I understand the situation. Which club do you want to join?' I replied: 'Madrid.' Rosell replied: 'That is not possible. You can go anywhere but there.'"

Ibrahimovic never did join Madrid, who had employed his former Inter coach Jose Mourinho.

However, Rosell slammed the transfer as relations with the player became further strained.

"Rosell, [Milan CEO Adriano] Galliani, [agent Mino Raiola], my lawyer and [Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria] Bartomeu were all there, and Sandro said: 'I want you to know that this is the worst piece of business I have conducted in my life.' I replied: 'It's the result of bad leadership.'"

Ibrahimovic won the Italian title in his maiden season with Milan.