BASTAD, Sweden — Keeping everyone guessing about his next move, Zlatan Ibrahimovic brushed aside rumours linking him to Manchester United or hometown club Malmo on Wednesday.
Speculation about his next move has been rife since Ibrahimovic left Paris Saint-Germain after scoring a career-high 38 league goals this season.
"I want you to still write a lot of stories so I get excited when I see them," the 34-year-old striker said at Sweden’s pre-European Championship training camp. "Because I want to see who is making up the best story and when I’m tired of it I will let you know where I will go."
Earlier this week, Swedish media reported that he would quit the national team after Euro 2016, but Ibrahimovic said "that’s not something I think about."
Commenting on the risk of attacks during the tournament in France, he said security had been stepped up considerably since the "tragic events" in Paris on Nov. 13 when 130 people died in shooting and bomb massacres.
"I hope please God that nothing happens," Ibrahimovic said. "Let people enjoy the football. Let the players enjoy playing football."
Asked about comments he made two days ago suggesting he will be back in Malmo, he said he meant with the national team, not the Swedish league.
"I’m still not interested. I’m too good for the Swedish league," Ibrahimovic said.
If he were to return to Malmo FF, he added, he wouldn’t even be discussing it with club officials, suggesting they would just have to accept whatever terms he decided.
"I make my own deal, I make my own budget," Ibrahimovic said. "That’s how things stand with MFF."
Malmo would have no chance of matching the top-level salaries Ibrahimovic earned in major clubs such as Juventus, Milan, Barcelona and PSG.
Manchester United and teams from Major League Soccer are reportedly interested in signing Ibrahimovic.
Asked whether he would play soccer at all next season, he said, "I hope so," but also insisted he wants to retire at the top of his game.
"Where ever I go I want to perform. If I feel I can’t do that, then someone else has to come in and do it," Ibrahimovic said. "That’s why I want to quit when I’m at the top."
