By Soccernet staff
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May 23, 2010
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Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks unlikely to move to
the Premier League, claiming the rain would deter him from playing
in England.
ManuelQueimadelos/GettyImages
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Surplus to requirements?
Speculation over Ibrahimovic's future is certain to intensify
over the coming days and weeks after Barca spent €40 million on
Valencia striker David Villa.
Ibrahimovic struggled to impress for the La Liga champions in
his first season since moving to the Catalan club from Inter Milan,
starting only 23 games but still managing to score 16 goals in the
league. And he was only named on the bench for four of Barca's last
six La Liga fixtures as they looked to hold off the challenge of
Real Madrid for the title.
After scoring just once in the run-in, and with the signing of
Villa, it has been suggested Ibrahimovic could now be offloaded to
help finance the purchase of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.
But it seems he will not be going in the opposite direction to
the Premier League. He told Swedish lifestyle magazine
Café: "England doesn't feel close. I don't like rain."
The Sweden international also ruled out a return home at any
point during his playing career, after starting his career with
Malmo: "Football will always be in my heart, it is a part of me,
but I will not make any guest appearances in the Allsvenka [Swedish
domestic league].
"Not as an active player at least. Maybe I can contribute my
knowledge to Swedish football in some other way."