The Manchester United striker has proved one of Sweden’s greatest exports, winning league titles in Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France.
‘Old Chelsea would have lost’
The exuberant striker also enjoyed a distinguished international career before his retirement after Euro 2016 and is Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Ibrahimovic will now be immortalised by the monument and he is delighted by the gesture.
“I come from a small area in Malmo - the ghetto, they call it - and I get a statue in the capital city of Sweden,” Ibrahimovic told United’s official website.
“I would not have believed it because I felt different. I did not feel like the other ones, where I came from, because of my background. But I believed that I would take over the world, that is for sure.
“Normally you get a statue when you pass away, but I am alive. It is incredible. I am super happy. I am honoured. Sweden is my country and whatever I do, I represent Sweden. I will always go back there.
“I cannot describe the words; the whole career I went through, it has been a big adventure with many things happening and this is the outcome. I get a statue. I cannot ask for more.”
Ibrahimovic’s statue will be designed by artist Peter Linde and will be a 2.7 metre version of the striker with his arms aloft, although he would have preferred a different design.
“It is like a gesture or a movement from a game, a typical Zlatan movement,” he continued.
“I have gone through it, I have been a little bit critical because I wanted the statue to be like me: massive, powerful, magic, wow! All these combinations I wanted to get into it, but he has done a great job – he is a great artist. He has his way of seeing things and he made it like a symbol that would live forever.”
