Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Why Staying at PSG Is the Right Decision For Ibra

Speculation has been rife since before the end of the season, most recently via RMC Radio, that Paris Saint-Germain’s prolific striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be calling an early end to his Paris adventure.

His agent, Mino Raiola, has denied those claims on numerous occasions, lately via the Journal du Dimanche prior to Laurent Blanc’s appointment as PSG coach to replace the popular Carlo Ancelotti.

With training having resumed, without Ibrahimovic for now, the Swedish international has yet to meet his new coach.

Blanc was able to take his first session with the side on Monday, though, and it appears that the wheels are finally starting to turn in the capital club’s transfer machine.

Serial Napoli goalscorer Edinson Cavani’s agent reportedly jetted into Paris for discussions with PSG sporting director Leonardo on Monday evening, according to Le Parisien (h/t ESPN FC).

If the Uruguayan is at the top of Blanc’s wish list and the player is keen to join, it would vindicate Ibrahimovic’s desire to stay in Paris to compete rather than to chase immediate success elsewhere.

Should Cavani sign, there would be less expectation on the Swede’s shoulders, and he would have a better chance of shining for a second consecutive season in the French capital.

"Second season syndrome," as it is known, applies to players too. It is expected to affect Ibrahimovic at PSG after he set such a high benchmark with 30 league goals in his first year.

Should the French champions add the Napoli hit man, it would immediately put them among the leading candidates to win the Champions League.

It would also change the team’s complexion drastically while refreshing Ibra.

Perhaps that is something that the 31-year-old needs to avoid stagnation.

There is no doubting that last season was one of his finest to date in his career, and statistically speaking it was the best.

Also, there is no reason that Ibrahimovic cannot enjoy similar success in this coming campaign at the peak of his powers.

But too often last year, the side from the capital relied on the towering striker to get it out of trouble, and it was his goals that largely accounted for the team’s league success.

There is plenty for PSG to be grateful to Ancelotti for, but despite Ibrahimovic’s fantastic showing last season, it was not necessarily a comfortable position for him.

Too much emphasis is put on the former Inter and AC Milan man’s role in the side at present. When the team wins, it is seen as being thanks to Ibra, and when it loses, it is his fault.

It also made his teammates complacent, though; they knew that they could rely on him if they failed to perform well because of his unerring consistency.

New coach Blanc is famed for his attacking style of play, and that, crucially, could bring some of the surrounding players into the game more.

Taking some of the weight of responsibility away from Ibrahimovic in the new season is vital if he is to maintain a relatively similar level of productivity.

The likes of Lucas Moura, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore, who together contributed seven league goals last season, will rightly be expected to score more goals this year.

Jeremy Menez, who provided Ibrahimovic with more goals than anyone else last term, could continue his fruitful partnership with the Swede but also has to score more goals to justify it.

Kevin Gameiro, a player that Blanc advised to join PSG when coach of the French national side, is another who could provide a natural striking option, should Cavani not arrive.

This was something that Ancelotti never gave a chance at the Parc des Princes.

The Italian never seemed to fully trust Gameiro, despite the Frenchman bagging some crucial goals.

In fact, he often did not even recognise his natural position and instead chose to play him out wide.

I am not saying that Gameiro is a better option than Cavani alongside Ibrahimovic, but indeed, if he does sign, there will be little room for both at the club.

Simply put: Gameiro deserves to be given a chance to prove himself and can shoulder some of the responsibility that Ibrahimovic has to bear by himself.

The team’s lack of a natural second goalscorer is what makes Cavani a priority signing, but all is not lost, should PSG be unsuccessful in its bid.

Either way, Ibrahimovic will be freer this season under "Le President," who will no doubt preach an aesthetically pleasing, attacking style of play.

His chances of being able to continue his sublime form and to challenge for the important trophies that he craves will be best served, though, if PSG can relieve some of that pressure.

Ibrahimovic has a chance this year to prove that he can lead a side beyond the latter stages of the Champions League, as well as replicate last season’s Ligue 1 success and do better in the domestic cups.

To do that, he needs to be playing alongside a natural striker. Lavezzi and Menez have done well at times but are not consistent enough to justify the role on a regular basis.

PSG is already just a few players short of having the depth to challenge on all fronts, and its starting lineup is already impressive.

But to get the best out of Ibrahimovic and to convince him that PSG can match his ambitions, there still need to be a few changes.