Ibrahimovic’s Swap with Eto’o Could Finally Stop Him Under Performing on the Big Stage
As Eto’o and Ibrahimovic finally complete their swap deal from Barcelona and Inter Milan, we can now look ahead at what these signings will mean for the players and their clubs.
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A good move for Eto’o, a good move for Ibrahimovic, and even though Barcalona paid way too much; it’s a good move for the clubs too.
Ibrahimovic has often been something of an anti climax in his footballing career so far. Put him in an Inter shirt and pit him against an Italian opposition and he will give you football that will make your eyes pop. Put him in a Sweden shirt or pit him against a Champions League opponent however, and you will forget that he’s even playing. The most likely problem is that he puts too much pressure on himself when the big stage comes along and the result is grit and frustration, a stark contrast to his usual skilful style. Stick him out of his comfort zone in Spain however and it could all change.
For starters La Liga suits Ibrahimovic’s style of play perfectly. His skill, flair and balance is exactly what thrives in Spain. It is also a completely different stage for him. He will have to adapt to a new style of life and football, and this could be exactly what he needs to wake him out of the pressure burden of the big stage. If he can successfully adapt to Spanish football then this will open a whole new door for him for further adaptation. What it will have meant is that he has gone out of his comfort zone and succeeded. This success will hopefully carry over to Internationals and the Champions League, where he is also out of his comfort zone. What this would mean is that his usual pressure and frustration when it comes to foreign stages suddenly becomes versatility and confidence, and all of a sudden you have an Ibrahimovic that is ready to take on the world.
As far as Eto’o is concerned this is exactly the type of fresh start he needed. As a straight swap for Ibrahimovic he automatically becomes an invaluable part of Inter Milan’s team, which should immediately give him back the comfort and importance he lost towards the end of his Barcelona career. Despite being consistently prolific for Barca, it was often rumoured that Eto’o had a disruptive presence in the dressing room, which is why he was allowed to go. It might be interesting to see how he gets on with a manager with as strong a character as Mourinho, though if all goes well Mourinho’s trademark ambition could provide him with the confidence and guidance he needs to reach top form.
With £40 million and Eto swapped it seems as though Inter have got the better side of the deal despite losing their star striker. Barcalona will hardly feel extorted however if Ibrahimovic provides the form he’s more than capable of, and so in the end it’s pretty much an excellent deal all round.
See also…
Why Messi is Right to Stay at Barcelona
Top 20 Young English Players Under 20
A Big Success for Football and Genuine Proof That Talent is Thrown Away
Why a Move From His Comfort Zone Could be Exactly What Ibrahimovic Needs
