If he loses, he does not speak to you for four days! – Boateng opens up on life with Zlatan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would not speak to his team-mates if they got the better of him in training, Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed.

Barcelona forward Boateng played alongside Ibrahimovic for two seasons at AC Milan between 2010 and 2012, before the Sweden international joined Paris Saint-Germain.

Ibrahimovic now plays in MLS with LA Galaxy and was involved in a fracas with former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha during a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Sunday.

Galaxy’s winner came courtesy of Ibrahimovic, who then appeared to goad Onuoha during his celebrations.

HEAR ME ROAR.

@Ibra_official pic.twitter.com/BuHIY3Iwqs

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 29, 2019

And though Boateng has played down Ibrahimovic’s bad boy persona, he disclosed that the former Inter and Barca forward would often ignore his team-mates if things did not go his way in training.

“When I got into the dressing room on my first day, he addressed me by name,” Boateng told DAZN.

“I just thought: ‘Wow, he knows my name.’ From the first moment we got along well.

“Zlatan is a leader. I have never met a more ambitious person. If he loses in training, he does not speak to you for four days.”

Boateng has had something of a nomadic career, and unexpectedly joined LaLiga champions Barca in January after impressing at Sassuolo.

Asked if he saw himself as a leader, Boateng replied: “Who follows me? I never claimed to be a leader.

“Others may argue that. It does not mean anything only to talk. You have to show it on the pitch, and afterwards everybody follows you.”