Kaka, Villa, Drogba, Gerrard, Lampard, Keane, Giovinco, Dempsey, Bradley and… Zlatan?
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Yes, we’ve all been dreaming of the day that Zlatan Ibrahimovic graces Major League Soccer with his presence by signing with one of the league’s 20 (for now) clubs, even if just for one day to make one five-minute substitute’s appearance.
That day, according to Tutto Mercato, could be coming soon. Per the Italian newspaper, Orlando City SC, the 2015 expansion side already home to Brazilian superstar Kaka (the two missed playing together at AC Milan by one season on two different occasions), has been in contact with Zlatan, who turned 34 on Saturday, and/or his representatives regarding the Swedish superstar’s impending free agency.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic could move to MLS' Orlando City SC next summer. Contact already established.
— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) October 5, 2015
With his current contract at Paris Saint-Germain set to expire in the summer of 2016, Zlatan is universally expected to leave the Ligue 1 powerhouse — but for where, no one knows.
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Given that Zlatan is clearly still “good enough” to continue playing at a very high level in Europe for one or two more seasons, an arrival in 2016 would be a massive coup for MLS. If he goes down the path of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who each an 18-month contract upon arriving in the summer, Zlatan would still be a tremendously productive player for the duration of his contract. Should he hang around Europe another season or two, then come to MLS at 35 or 36, the United States and Canada could potentially be robbed of any semblance of the best of Zlatan.
That is, of course, all based on the assumption that Zlatan could earn regular playing time with Cyle Larin, the soon-to-be Rookie of the Year, in the same squad. /sarcasm