Zlatan Ibrahimovic expects to stay at Barcelona

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is adamant that his future lies at Barcelona, despite reports linking him with a move to the Premier League.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in training
Staying put: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he has no intentions of leaving Barcelona for the Premier League Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Ibrahimovic has been regularly linked with a move away from Barcelona following a disappointing first season at the Nou Camp, and the club's signing of David Villa from Valencia has done nothing to dampen the rumours.

Manchester City and Chelsea are reported to have expressed an interest in Ibrahimovic, but the player himself says he has no intention of leaving the Spanish champions.

''I was a Barca player when I left [to go on holiday] and I'll be a Barca player when I go back,'' Ibrahimovic said.

''I have four years left on my contract.''

The former Inter Milan forward also criticised the press for their suggestion that he may be on the verge of a move to the Premier League.

''I want to congratulate everybody that has used my name, because it's fun to have been at Chelsea, at Manchester City, without having been there,'' Ibrahimovic said.

Ibrahimovic's first season in Spain started brightly, with goals in his first four league games and the winner in El Clásico against Real Madrid.

However, by the turn of the year the goals had started to dry up and the 28-year-old Swede's appearances on the substitutes bench became ever the more regular.