Zlatan Ibrahimovic Urges MLS To Stop Pursuing Star Signings Like Lionel Messi and Focus on One ‘More Important Thing’

“I’m happy for them. They can watch soccer again. When I left, they started watching baseball,” Zlatan Ibrahimovic once said while reacting to Lionel Messi‘s switch to the MLS’ Inter Miami. Ibrahimovic is still positive about the MLS’ popularity surge after Messi’s arrival. But the Swedish legend believes star signings won’t take the Major League to the levels of its European counterparts. He says superstar players, including Messi and his Miami teammates, help the MLS in the present but can’t aid it in the future.

Having played for the MLS’ LA Galaxy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke at length about the league’s growth during his recent appearance on ESPN FC’s First Take. “It’s not only about bringing the stars. Those guys are important because they bring fans, they bring visibility…But I believe the youth is more important because they are the future,” said Ibrahimovic. “You want to have a base even for the national team or league. Or else you will end up paying a lot for big stars,” he added.

During the interview, the AC Milan legend said big stars “are not the future, they are the present.” He reiterated it is important for clubs to build a base for the future by signing young players or bringing up young talent from their own academies. As Ibrahimovic pointed out, it should indeed be a motto for MLS clubs to go bullish on youngsters instead of big names. However, many MLS sides, including Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have adapted to this strategy way before the former Swedish captain’s comments.

Big names have not been the only focus for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami

Inter Miami’s veteran core is a classic example of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s observation: superstars are the present, not the future. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba are all in the twilight of their careers. But what about their teammates? Are they also nearing an end? Not even close. Around 25 teammates of Leo Messi are under the age of 30! Close to a dozen of these players are under 20! This means they have a bright future ahead, and the Herons are setting a firm base by letting their youngsters learn from the best superstars who followed Messi’s suit.

Moreover, Miami houses quite a lot of academy players, including Benjamin Cremaschi, Ian Fray, David Ruiz, and Franco Negri, among others. Just like Ibrahimovic observed, the likes of Cremaschi are building a base for their national teams as well. Cremaschi has been a regular for the USMNT’s U-23 side at the Paris Olympics. Academy players aside, the Herons’ signing of Federico Redondo, last season, is proof that David Beckham is well aware of the importance of youngsters, just like Zlatan.