Ex-Barcelona star reveals Zlatan Ibrahimovic anecdote: “As much quality as Messi, Cristiano”

Former Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy recently sat down for a candid interview with journalist Toni Juanmarti, during which the Ukrainian star opened up on his failed season-long stint at Spotify Camp Nou between 2009 and 2010.

Chygrynskiy’s arrival at Barcelona coincided with that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish legend also signed for the Blaugrana in 2009, joining from Inter Milan as part of the deal that saw Samuel Eto’o move the other way.

It is no secret that Zlatan did not enjoy the best of times at Barcelona and he has been outspoken about it and his experience under then-manager Pep Guardiola.

Now, Chygrynskiy, who shared the dressing room with the AC Milan superstar at Barcelona, has revealed an interesting anecdote about the 41-year-old Swede.

“We were playing on the pitch and suddenly he says: ‘These people (at Barça) still haven’t understood that I have as much quality as Messi and Cristiano put together. They treat me badly,” Chygrynskiy revealed, providing an insight into Zlatan’s unhappiness at Barcelona.

Much like Chygrynskiy, Ibrahimovic also left Barcelona just one year after signing. The legendary Swedish centre-forward made 46 appearances for the Catalan giants, scoring a total of 22 goals and setting up 13 more.

Ibrahimovic joined Milan on loan in 2010, before making the transfer permanent a year later. He also had stints at PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy in the MLS before returning to Milan in January 2020.

Chygrynskiy, on the other hand, played less than 15 official matches for Barcelona, before going back to Shakhtar Donetsk. He also had spells at Dnipro and AEK Athens and is currently playing for Ionikos in Greece.