Ibrahimovic: "I have pain everywhere every morning I wake up but..."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke to The Guardian as he revealed many details about his career and different moments in it:

"It's not easy. Every day I wake up, I have pain everywhere. This morning I had pain everywhere but as long as I have objectives, as long as I have adrenaline, I keep going. I know I’m coming to something good. I’m coming to somewhere I need to work to keep myself at the top. I will keep doing it as long as I can. I don’t want to have that regret if I stop and then, in a couple of years, I’m sitting with you and saying: ‘I could have continued because I was feeling good.’ It’s better to be totally finished and say: ‘I cannot do it any more.’ But I can still do it and I am doing it.”

Ibrahimovic on his vision and views regarding his career:

"It’s not about contracts or being famous. I don’t need that. The only thing that keeps me going is the adrenaline because every morning I have pain everywhere. But getting two more followers will not heal you. Getting more money will not heal you. Getting attention will not heal you. What will heal you is adrenaline."

“I don’t have problems suffering. For me, to suffer is like breakfast. But many people don’t understand suffering because the new generation, with all these platforms, have to do little to get credit. The generation before that you had to do a lot to get a little. I’m very proud I came from the old generation.”

On being with the Milan team:

"Even if I’m there, it’s incredible. They make me look young. It has this effect, like Benjamin Button. After six months here you will have dark hair, trust me. I’m very proud because I see these young players taking more responsibility, the mentality changing. That is my happiness now. That is my adrenaline. I go out and run as much as them."

“I’ve been doing it for 20 years. People think: ‘No, Ibrahimovic, you need to stop.’ My mentality says different. I do it because when the young players see me work they say: ‘After all he has done he is still [working]. I have to do it because he has done everything.’ It’s a bit of, not manipulation, but showing them by example."

“I’m not that dog that barks and does nothing. I’m the opposite. When I was first here [from 2010 to 2012] we were superstars. Now it’s full of talent, the youngest team in Europe, but we’re on top. So it’s a different project and it’s more satisfying because if you succeed with superstars, it’s expected. This is not expected.”

On the foul against César Azpilicueta in Sweden vs Spain:

"The other day in the national team, I gave a tackle to [Spain’s Azpilicueta]. I did it on purpose. I’m not ashamed to say it. Here's why, because he did something stupid to my player. Acting big to my player. It was a stupid thing but I would still do it to make him understand: ‘You don’t f*cking do that. You don’t have balls to do it against me. But I will show you what happens if you do it to me.’ That’s why I did it."

Did Azpilicueta say something after the match?

"What can he say? He will not say it to me but he will say it to my player – who will do nothing because he’s too nice. It was not a good thing by me, but I would still do it. That’s me. I’m not ashamed to say it. It’s not about missing the play-offs. It’s about making the guy understand you don’t take the piss out of somebody laying [on the ground]. You don’t attack a dog that doesn’t talk. Attack the one able to do something. It’s too easy to pick on my teammates who are 20 years old and very nice guys. I hope he understands now."

Ibrahimovic on his disagreement with Lebron James:

"Sport unites people. Politics divide people. If we talk about racism, it’s something else. That’s something I don’t agree with. But I don’t do politics. If I did, I would be a president now. I don't know Lebron James personally. I don’t judge him. Whatever he does with racists, he is right, because when 50,000 call you a f*cking gypsy, it’s the same. That is [also] racism. But I don’t do politics. I do sport. That’s the way you spread love.”