Ibra: "I've done more for France than François Hollande"

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave an interview to Le Monde ahead of the European Championship in which he stated with typical brashness that he had done more for France than President of the Republic, François Hollande, and also touched upon footballer’s salaries in the current market.

Asked about how much he pockets and whether money is the key to happiness, the Sweden captain replied: “Ok, let’s talk about money. I think money makes things easier, but it does not give happiness.” The interviewer then mentioned Ibrahimovic’s salary in 2015, which has been reported at 20 million euros. “Only 20 million? That’s what I got paid in the first six months.”

Ibrahimovic explained that if his salary seems excessive, it is the market that dictates the prices. “I don’t know if it’s a lot or not. I think that there are players who shouldn’t be in the market, but it is the market that decides the prices. It is not passion [for football] or the media. And if it is a lot, it’s not my problem. What concerns me is what the market says and the market says: ‘This is your price.’ If another player earns whatever he earns it’s because I’m 10 times better than him. How do you solve it? By paying 10 times more.”

When the conversation veered towards the morality of football salaries in the modern world and in times of recession, Ibrahimovic responded: “Do you know how much tax I pay?” The reporter pointed out that the 75-percent tax rate on high earners hasn’t been in force since January 2015. “Great. Are you sure? Because I can assure you that it is me who does my tax returns. I help this country a lot. What type of a president is François Hollande? I do more for this country than him.”