Pavel Nedved explains why Zlatan Ibrahimovic was his best team-mate, despite one big problem
:focal(179x135:181x133)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/03/26/1443595-30868867-310-310.jpg)
Updated 11/10/2016 at 13:41 GMT
Pavel Nedved has named Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his greatest ever team-mate, despite the fact one of the world’s great strikers “couldn’t finish” when he signed for Juventus.
Juventus' Pavel Nedved (L) celebrates his goal with team mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R)
Image credit: Reuters
Ibrahimovic signed for Juve from Ajax in 2004 and spent two years with the Italian giants, winning two league titles which were later revoked due to a corruption scandal.
Nedved was a key member of that team, eventually leaving Juve in 2009 after eight years in Turin, having had spells with Dukla Prague, Sparta Prague and Lazio in a fantastic career.
But he says Ibrahimovic was the best colleague he had in football.
“In terms of team-mates, I’ve had a lot and I don’t want to offend anyone,” Nedved said. “If I had to say one though, I’d say Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He’s a striker who can cut through defences, he has scary power and height, as well as excellent technique.”
Still, even Ibrahimovic required some polishing, as Nedved recalls.
“That said, when he came to Juventus he couldn’t finish. What you see today is mainly down to the fact Fabio Capello took him for a half hour of shooting practice after every training session.”
The Czech great says he wishes he had been able to enjoy a spell with Manchester United, the club Ibrahimovic has joined to bring the curtain down on his magnificent career in European football.
“A regret? That I never played for Manchester United, I’d have liked that. The transfer was never on the table though, there was only Chelsea.
“I liked the generation of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, who I admired. I was a little bit jealous of Karel Poborsky who played in Manchester and experienced great matches. I know he still feels that love.”
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement