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David Beckham Played A Key Role In Zlatan's Move To LA Galaxy

David Beckham Played A Key Role In Zlatan's Move To LA Galaxy

The Swede has followed in Beckham's footsteps...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the latest marquee signing for LA Galaxy and the MLS on the whole - and David Beckham played a big role in making it happen.

The Swede has been continually linked with a switch to the States and news broke on Thursday saying Ibrahimovic had played his last game for Manchester United, and that he was heading to Los Angeles.

He announced his arrival at Galaxy with a full-page advert in the L.A Times, before he was officially announced through a brilliant video on LA Galaxy's social media channels:

According to Paul Hirst from The Times, Galaxy had been courting the well-travelled striker for three years and the club's president, Chris Klein, met Ibrahimovic and Mino Raiola and discussed a possible move just before he was reunited with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, where he scored 29 goals.

This time around the 36-year old did put pen to paper, with a detailed report from Adam Serrano on Galaxy's official website explaining how Beckham, who put the MLS on the map when he made the switch in 2007, was involved in selling him the project.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Though Ibra was still contracted with United at the time, he and his family were given a tour around LA's StubHub Center stadium by technical director Jovan Kirovski, before the former Barcelona striker had dinner with Kirovski and Beckham in a Beverly Hills restaurant.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Beckham and Ibrahimovic were teammates at PSG for a brief period and the man himself admitted the England legend told him to experience football/soccer in the States.

"I met David when I played in PSG and he talked a lot about Galaxy, the experience he had in America, he was all positive," Ibrahimovic said in an interview with the MLS website.

"He was like: 'You should come over, go over, and try it out, play there'.

"He said everything is fantastic, it's in progress, but to be part of it is something amazing and something he was proud of.

"So I'm just happy to get all these words because it makes it easier for you when you have to choose whatever you want to do for the next step."

Ibrahimovic has signed a two-year contract in a deal worth a reported $3 million.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Manchester United, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG, MLS, AC Milan, LA Galaxy

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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