Ibrahimovic denies insulting Messi, Ronaldo

PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he has never said anything negative about Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Several publications recently carried derogatory quotes about Messi and Ronaldo that were attributed to Ibrahimovic, but the 31-year-old made it clear he did not say anything that belittled the Liga stars.

“I only have positive things to say about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” the Sweden international told the official PSG website.

“I never gave an interview in which I said negative or defamatory things about Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two players for whom I have the utmost respect.

“I am angry and annoyed at being the victim of this type of practice; the practice of attributing fictive declarations to football players with the solitary aim of creating headlines.

“I respect football, my team, my teammates and my opponents, and I always will.”

Ibrahimovic has developed into a key player at PSG since joining the Ligue 1 club from AC Milan last July.