Another season, another club, Zlatan Ibrahmiovic has replaced Nicholas Anelka as the most expensive player in history (in terms of combined transfer fees) with his high profile move to Paris St Germain. Even by the controversial Swede standards his move makes for compelling viewing.
Before he has kicked a ball his reported salary of 1 million Euros a month is causing stir throughout France as Francois Hollande begins to implement his harsh austerity measures.
From a footballing perspective `Ibra` wasted no time in announcing his arrival in typically grand fashion “I don’t know much about the French league but they know who I am!” As journeymen go, Ibra has always fitted the classier model of that soubriquet. Trophies have followed him wherever he has gone, including his much-maligned season at Barca. His record of 8 consecutive league titles with four different clubs in three different leagues is unlikely to be replicated. But will his move to the French capital bring him an elusive Champions League medal?
PSG have spent extravagantly but still failed to win Lique 1 last year, which in the circumstances was a little humiliating. With Ibra and the excellent Thiago Silva arriving in the capital what chance, Ancelotti can turn the millions into silverware?
Comparisons with the arrivistes from Manchester are obvious but PSG will find it difficult to reach that level in a considerably poorer league, hell even City flopped in the group stage last season. So can Ibra work his magic in the prime of his career?
Well the smart money would be on the league specialist helping PSG power to the title, but can his years in the capital allow him to crown a magnificent yet strangely unfulfilled career?
As always with Ibra the questions follow his remarkable ability. He was generally excellent in the Euros with even ardent critics like Hansen warming to his extravagant gifts. However a desperately mediocre Swedish team ensured he went home early. England has always regarded him suspicion due to his often-disappointing displays against Premier League teams. But a double against Arsenal in 2010 with Barca and then a sublime performance against the Gunners with Milan this year have gone a long way to silencing the doubters.
At PSG he is guaranteed star billing, something that he needs to thrive. His inability to play secondary fiddle to Messi for Barca led to a bitter and acrimonious departure; at PSG he will be the focal point of team with an array of talent but missing a global superstar. His ego, arrogance and bellicose nature have been highlighted but his unquenchable desire to win should be in no doubt.
Drogba was lauded for so may years as a big game player, yet so often he failed to produce for Chelsea in the c.l when it most mattered, this year he put those demons to bed. In Italy Ibra is every bit as admired, but you feel the prospect of joining the wealth of PSG was vital to leave a stagnant team and maximise the next few years as enters his autumn years.
In this writer opinion Ibra was bestowed with a talent that dwarfed those of Villa, Eto and Shevshenko: the pre-eminent strikers of the last decade. His ability to be match winner, physically brutal and technically brilliant produced a cocktail, which rightly elevated him to be considered amongst the worlds best. However the last train of his career to Paris is vital if he is to truly fulfil his prodigious talent. Like or loathe him, once again Ibra will provide essential viewing next season, French football should be grateful it will provide a chapter to football story that has never been less than intriguing.
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