“He Was Doing a Lot of Crazy Things in the Dressing Room” – Yaya Toure Shares Details of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Falling-Out with Guardiola at Barcelona
Former Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has shed new light on the infamous fallout between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola during their time together at the Catalan club. In a recent interview, Toure revealed that Ibrahimovic’s outspoken personality and fiery antics in the dressing room played a major role in the tension between the Swedish striker and his manager.
Toure’s Revelations on Zlatan’s Behavior
Speaking about the atmosphere in the Barcelona squad during the 2009-10 season, Toure recalled how Ibrahimovic’s strong personality often clashed with Guardiola’s disciplined coaching style. “Zlatan was doing a lot of crazy things in the dressing room,” Toure said. “He is a player who always speaks his mind, and sometimes that created problems.”
Ibrahimovic, who joined Barcelona from Inter Milan in a high-profile transfer, was expected to be the focal point of the team’s attack. However, his time at the club quickly became complicated when Guardiola started favoring Lionel Messi in the central forward role, pushing Ibrahimovic out wide—a position he was not comfortable with.
The Breaking Point with Guardiola
The friction between Ibrahimovic and Guardiola escalated throughout the season. According to Toure, Zlatan was vocal about his frustrations, often challenging the coach’s decisions. “He wanted to be the main man, but Pep had a different vision,” Toure explained. “There were moments when you could see the tension. Zlatan is not someone who holds back.”
Ibrahimovic himself has spoken about his problems with Guardiola in the past, famously referring to the Spanish manager as “a philosopher” and accusing him of failing to communicate directly. In his autobiography I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the striker detailed how Guardiola stopped speaking to him altogether, leading to an inevitable departure.
How It Ended for Zlatan at Barcelona
By the end of the season, it was clear that Ibrahimovic’s days at Barcelona were numbered. Despite scoring 21 goals in all competitions, he was loaned to AC Milan before making the move permanent. His exit marked one of the most high-profile managerial fallouts in modern football.
Reflecting on the situation, Toure acknowledged that while Ibrahimovic’s personality may have clashed with Guardiola’s style, the Swedish striker remained one of the most talented forwards he had ever played with. “Zlatan is a winner. He has that confidence and energy that makes him special. But at Barcelona, things just didn’t work out.”
Legacy of the Conflict
The fallout between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola remains one of football’s most talked-about managerial disputes. Guardiola went on to achieve even greater success with Barcelona, refining his tactical philosophy around Messi. Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic continued his illustrious career across Europe, winning league titles in Italy, France, and England.
For fans and football historians, the clash between these two strong personalities is a reminder of how managerial vision and player egos can sometimes be at odds—even at the highest level of the game.