Zlatan falling out with Kallstrom reveals Arsenal signing's hidden weapon
Arsenal signing Kim Kallstrom
has played alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic for nearly his entire
international career, but did you know about the time they fell out?
A
international with 108 caps, Kim Kallstrom has been a mainstay of the
Sweden side for a decade - which has in turn meant a few ups and downs
with the country's most talented player.Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a maverick talent, but one who has the occasional fall-out, just ask Pep Guardiola.
So it's inevitable that Arsenal's new signing had a high profile run-in with the Ballon d'Or nominee - coming back in 2009.
Swedish newspaper Expressen detail the story, which occurred on the pitch in a World Cup qualifying victory over Malta.
The paper described 'several heated arguments' between the pair, which played it's way out after the game during the media.
Kallstrom was quizzed on the events, and gave his side of the story: "He thought should I hit the pass to him, I found someone else."
Fair enough, but Zlatan did not take kindly to Kallstrom providing details, and saw fit to criticise him:
"He said that in the media? All right. No idea. He should play easily, that's what he should do.
"He (Kallstrom) has played too much left-back, that's what he's done."
As Expressen detail, that was a dig at Kallstrom playing at left-back at his then club Lyon, with his clubmates preferred to him in midfield.
After 'barely speaking to each other in the mixed zone', Kallstrom and Zlatan of course patched things up and have gone onto represent Sweden countless times together since then, including against England at Euro 2012.
So what does this little tale, apart from being an interesting anecdote, tell us?
Well it firstly illustrates Kallstrom's ability to play at left-back, which could be very useful to Arsenal considering Kieran Gibb's injury record and if Nacho Monreal is also ineligible.
It also shows he isn't afraid of big stars like Zlatan, and will not be intimidated at joining Arsenal's squad and jumping straight into help their title push.
The Swede has a lot to offer, and to write him off before he has even kicked a ball would be a naive move for anybody to make.
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/02/01/zlatan-falling-out-with-kallstrom-reveals-arsenal-signings-hidde/
