World Cup 2018: Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he can ‘play better than this Sweden team’
Legendary frontman then goes on to concede that he must let the current crop of stars play and escape his shadow
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has incredibly claimed that he can play better than the entire Sweden team.
The legendary frontman is not part of his national side's campaign in Russia this summer.
Sweden beat South Korea 1-0 and then lost 2-1 to Germany on Saturday, leaving them third in Group F and facing a must-win game against Mexico on Wednesday.
Former Manchester United star Ibrahimovic has been watching from home and was asked if it had been difficult to watch the side without playing.
Zlatan, who recently showed off his bum tattoos, told ESPN: "No. In the beginning, the first games was different because I felt I can do it much better than them, obviously.
"And I still feel that.
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"But there is a time when you say let them do it and let them enjoy because where I came from, I was not welcome. I was different.
"I came from a different background.
"And I went through all those things and I became the captain of my national team. I mean, bigger than that it cannot be."
Some fans were furious with his remarks.
One said: "Zlatan really needs to learn when to stop."
Another social media user posted: "The best thing about this is Zlatan wanted to play for these and they told him to f*** off."
Another wrote: "You're getting boring now, Zlatan."
Ibrahimovic retired from the Swedish national team in 2016 after the Euros.
Sweden beat Italy to make their way to Russia without him in the side and manager Janne Andersson insisted that even if Zlatan wanted to return he didn't need him in the squad.
Ibrahimovic appeared to tease a sensational return to the side for the finals this summer - but it turned out to be a marketing campaign.