Zlatan Ibrahimović talks about his Croatian heritage & Luka Modrić

by croatiaweek
February 15, 2019
in Sport

Zlatan Ibrahimović has talked candidly about the phenomenal year Croatian captain Luka Modrić has had and how happy he was that he won football’s pinnacle prize – the Ballon d’Or.

Usually not very forthcoming with praise for other players, Ibrahimović told DAZN that the Real Madrid and Croatia star throughly deserved the award.

“I think he is one of the most complete midfielders in the world. He has fantastic pace, he has a vision for the game that is amazing. The ball handling is amazing. I played against him at an early age when he was a young player now he is experienced and I am happy that he won the Golden Ball, the FIFA best player at the World Cup, all these things because it is is not often that a player like that gets the credit. Last year was his year and I am happy he won,” Ibrahimović said.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, PSG and Manchester United star then talked briefly about being proud of the Croatian heritage he shares with Modrić.

“Me and my mother being from Croatia, he’s Croatian so I am happy. It’s part of the blood,” he added.

Ibrahimović’s mother, Jurka Gravić, emigrated to Sweden from the village of Prkos near Škabrnja which is close to the city of Zadar and not far from where Modrić is from. His father is of Bosnian decent.

Check out the video below.