Ibrahimovic admires 'un-English' Gerrard, tells him to move on

STOCKHOLM (AFP) –

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts during a press conference with the Swedish national football team in Stockholm, Sweden. Ibrahimovic says Steven Gerrard is not “a normal English player”, as the Liverpool midfielder prepares to win his 100th England cap in Wednesday’s friendly between the two countries.

Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic says Steven Gerrard is not “a normal English player”, as the Liverpool midfielder prepares to win his 100th England cap in Wednesday’s friendly between the two countries.

Gerrard will join a select band of players to have made 100 appearances for England when he leads Roy Hodgson’s team out at Friends Arena in Stockholm on Wednesday evening.

“I think Steven Gerrard is a fantastic player,” said Ibrahimovic.

“He has been loyal to his club and he has won some big trophies with the club. He always plays at a high level, when he is not injured.

“He is a very good person to have as a team-mate in your team. He always gives 200 percent, is a good fighter, and has good skills and a good touch with the ball also.

“He feels more like an international player, rather than a normal English player. English players have big hearts and are always fighting, very aggressive, but for me, Gerrard feels more international.

“He has more skills than the normal player.”

Ibrahimovic also went on to add that it was time for Gerrard to leave Liverpool and move to a “a big international club”.

Speaking ahead of the England-Sweden clash, he went on to add,

“But, although of course Liverpool is a big club, I would like to see Steven at a big international club. I would like to see that also for England because it is very exciting when someone goes abroad and shows who he is also in another competition.”

“I would like to see that also for England because it is very exciting when someone goes abroad and shows he who he is also in another competition. For me, a fantastic player can make the difference in every country wherever he plays. I’m pretty sure Steven would do that also. Now he is playing one of the best leagues in the world, a fantastic player.”