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AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Marco van Basten is a legend, but Louis van Gaal is 'a dictator without any sense of humour'
The outspoken Swedish forward is never short of words and has praised the former Netherlands attacker whilst slating his former coach for what he sees as a lack of character
11-Feb-2012 6:37:04 PM
By Gareth McKnight
Getty Images
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reminisced about his time at Ajax, stating his respect for Marco van Basten and disdain for ex-coach Louis van Gaal.
The AC Milan striker has never been short of words or far away from controversy in his career, and has now revealed that he didn't see eye-to-eye with the 60-year-old, who was recently blocked from becoming a director at the Amsterdam club.
"Van Gaal is a dictator, without any sense of humor," the Swedish forward told Algemeen Dagblad.
"One day he told me I had to think more about the team. Van Basten had told me the opposite. I said to Van Gaal: 'Who must I listen to? To Louis van Gaal or to a legend?' I don't think he liked that."
Ibrahimovic went on to reveal that Van Basten was something of an idol to him as a youngster.
"I still remember the first time I saw him. It was in the dressing room from Ajax. He was there for an internship to become a coach," the Swede recalled.
"The moment he walked in I did not know what to say. In the period I was at Ajax I've got to know him better. He was a nice person, a real striker."
Ibrahimovic is currently serving a three-match ban for Milan due to being sent off against Napoli.
The AC Milan striker has never been short of words or far away from controversy in his career, and has now revealed that he didn't see eye-to-eye with the 60-year-old, who was recently blocked from becoming a director at the Amsterdam club.
"Van Gaal is a dictator, without any sense of humor," the Swedish forward told Algemeen Dagblad.
"One day he told me I had to think more about the team. Van Basten had told me the opposite. I said to Van Gaal: 'Who must I listen to? To Louis van Gaal or to a legend?' I don't think he liked that."
Ibrahimovic went on to reveal that Van Basten was something of an idol to him as a youngster.
"I still remember the first time I saw him. It was in the dressing room from Ajax. He was there for an internship to become a coach," the Swede recalled.
"The moment he walked in I did not know what to say. In the period I was at Ajax I've got to know him better. He was a nice person, a real striker."
Ibrahimovic is currently serving a three-match ban for Milan due to being sent off against Napoli.
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