Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha has lifted the lid on his infamous feud with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during their time as opponents in MLS.
The pair almost came to blows in the locker room after LA Galaxy’s game against Real Salt Lake in April 2019.
It came after the duo battled throughout the 90 minutes, with Ibrahimovic initially dragging Onuoha to the ground as he blocked him from getting to the ball.
The Swede, who also played for AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in his illustrious career, then laughed straight in Onuoha’s face after he scored late on.
That prompted Ibrahimovic to walk into Real Salt Lake’s locker room and ask Onuoha, formerly of Manchester City, if he’d ‘calmed down’.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nedum Onuoha were embroiled in a spat during a MLS game in 2019
The Swedish striker dragged the defender down to the ground before going on to score a goal
They then faced off in the locker room after Ibrahimovic asked if Onuoha had ‘calmed down’
Onuoha admits that caused a furious reaction and he had to be held back as Ibrahimovic was escorted out of the locker room.
Speaking on the FilthyFellas YouTube channel, Onuoha claimed MLS players ‘danced’ around stars like Ibrahimovic and he would berate his teammates during games.
He said: ‘With Ibrahimovic, we all know his career. The stuff he’s done, the goals he’s scored. You picture him playing for Inter and AC (Milan), whatever, being great.
‘I went to MLS the season after he did. When I first went he was talking so much as he does. He said “I’m a Ferrari among Fiats” and I’m thinking he’s talking about this league, have some respect.
‘The guy I’m standing next to, an MLS player, is laughing his head off saying “he’s so funny, isn’t he?”. I said “yo, he’s talking about you. Why are you okay with this?”
‘What he did when he was there. Basically he scored loads of goals but he was always demeaning the league, talking it down. Anyone who was doing well he’d push them down.
‘When we played against him, it was my first time playing him, it was 0-0 and a bit of a dead game. The ball goes over the top and I stand behind him and he grabbed me by the neck and threw me to the floor.
‘I’m laying on the floor looking at him like “what are you doing?” and he was like “get up”. I’m like “who are you talking to?”
‘So I stand up and now I’m getting in his face saying “who are you talking to?”, calling him this and that. For the rest of that game, we’re head to head, and every time he makes a mistake I’m laughing. We were laughing at each other basically.
‘His team were getting pumped, and this describes who he was in that moment, his team were stinking it up at the back and all he’s doing from the halfway line is shouting at how bad everyone is.
‘He was saying “you’re no good, you guys are a disgrace, a disaster”. He’s not running channels, he’s just standing there. People who played with him in MLS played with fear because they were worried about upsetting him.
Onuoha revealed Ibrahimovic would criticize his teammates in games, making them ‘fear him’
‘Then late on the ball comes in and he scores and I’m like “for God’s sake”. He comes straight to the side of my head and he’s laughing.
‘The game finishes and this is the thing about MLS, some guys are about it and some aren’t. They dance around their stars. So after the game, we’ve lost, everyone knows I’ve had some beef with this player and there’s a guy on my team trying to take pictures with him on the field.
‘I make it into the dressing room and I’m like hot because the game’s gone the way it’s gone, it’s my first interaction with this guy, we’re away from home and should’ve won.
‘Two minutes later he came into the dressing room and was like “have you calmed down yet?” I don’t know this guy, I’m like again “who are you talking to?”
‘So now I’m pressing him. I get backed by one or two people telling him to “f***ing make his way out or whatever” but looking around there’s only three of us who stepped up. The rest of them were just in shock.
‘I was the first person who went up against him and more people did it after that. The next time we played them, I was ready for war and when I saw him he asked me how I was.
‘I think he respected me for stepping up to him because a lot of people wouldn’t have pushed back. I’m disappointed because he’s got one of the best careers but also says stuff that I know people I know would never say about anyone.’
Ibrahimovic joined LA Galaxy after leaving Manchester United in March 2018.
He scored 53 goals in 58 appearances during two seasons in MLS but couldn’t lead them to any silverware. When he announced his exit, he told fans to ‘go back to watch baseball’.
Onuoha, meanwhile, made 53 appearances over three seasons for Real Salt Lake. He announced his retirement after their 2020 MLS season.
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