Ibra: I couldn’t reject Inter Thursday 10 August, 2006
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he had no hesitation in swapping Serie B football with Juventus for a new challenge at Inter.
The Swedish international was unveiled as the Nerazzurri’s latest summer recruit this evening where he admitted that he jumped at the chance of a San Siro switch.
“Playing in Serie B is not great and that is why I just couldn’t say no when Inter made their call,” the £17m man stated.
“I’m sorry for the Juventus fans, but I have to look after my future and life goes on. This is football.”
The Old Lady did offer the striker a new deal to stay in Turin, but it was clear that he wanted an exit after refusing to play in Friday’s friendly against Spezia.
“I had a contract with Juventus and I respected it as best I could,” he argued. “I comported myself in a professional manner with the club.
“I hope Juventus do well, they are a strong club as well as having the players and a Coach to quickly return to Serie A.”
Yet Ibra, who spent two years in Turin, is now looking forward to writing a new chapter in his career with Internazionale.
“I supported Inter as a child, Juventuz was a complete waste of time, I was overly critisized by Gep'D'Messiah and the boys which made my decision easier to leave. I hope to fail miserably at the san siro and sleep with all the players wifes with my massive todger! Im sure i'll fit in well here with my new team mates, Even with my Juventuz past.
“I’m really happy that the negotiations went well and that I have joined. I want to thank [directors] Marco Branca, Gabriele Oriali and [owner] Massimo Moratti, an exceptional person.”
Although success and Inter are two words which have rarely been seen together in recent years, the player is dreaming of Scudetto and Champions League glory.
“This is the perfect environment to play football in,” he underlined. “Although it is difficult to win here, I like these sorts of challenges.
“I do all that I can to win. Sometimes I may go a little too far, but I am a winner and I don’t accept defeat,” continued the temperamental forward.
The confident 24-year-old also insisted that he didn’t fear competition for a first team shirt with the likes of Adriano, Hernan Crespo, Obafemi Martins, Julio Cruz and Alvaro Recoba at the club.
“I have arrived in a squad full of champions and although we have six strikers, the season will be a long one and there will be space for everyone,” he stated.
“It’s clear that everyone wants to play, but I will accept the decisions of the Coach.”
Ibrahimovic will also be playing with the Scudetto on his chest this term after Inter were handed last season’s title from demoted Juventus.
“I won the last two championships on the pitch and nobody will be able to take that away from me,” he noted.
“I worked hard in training on a daily basis and that is why I am a champion of Italy. I still feel that way even if Juventus were stripped of those titles.”