In a candid interview, former Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari dispelled popular misconceptions about Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to Muntari, who shared the locker room with Ibrahimovic at both Inter Milan and AC Milan, the towering striker was far from intimidating. Instead, he was a confident player who demanded excellence from those around him.

“As a teammate, Ibrahimovic wasn’t intimidating at all,” Muntari shared with 3 Sports. “He just wanted the best out of you. He won games easily for whichever team I played for. I managed to play with him during his early years at Inter and then later at Milan.”

Muntari, a two-time Serie A champion, also voiced his belief that Ibrahimovic deserved at least one Ballon d’Or during his glittering career. He attributed the omission to Zlatan’s outspoken nature.

“They didn’t want to give him the Ballon d’Or because he speaks his mind,” Muntari said. “Sometimes people don’t like that, but Ibrahimovic is massive. He’s one of the best of his time.”

When asked about his favorite strikers of all time, Muntari named Ibrahimovic alongside football greats Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry.

The Ghanaian veteran’s reflections shed light on Zlatan’s influence as both a player and a teammate, reinforcing his legacy as one of football’s iconic figures.