He kept saying 'I am going to hurt you' - Onuoha accuses Ibrahimovic of disrespect

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) and Nedum Onuoha (right) clashed several times during Real Salt Lake's loss to LA Galaxy - Getty/BBC

Ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has claimed Zlatan Ibrahimovic threatened to hurt him during LA Galaxy's victory over Real Salt Lake, and accused the striker of disrespect.


The pair clashed twice, before Ibrahimovic scored the 78th-minute winner and celebrated in Onuoha's face.

Onuoha, 32, says he rejected the Swede's apology in the dressing room.

"Over here it is just a show for him. A lot of people are scared of him - but he is just a mere mortal," he said.

"First, he was very arrogant. Secondly, I thought: 'What is this guy playing at?'

"This is not the way you are supposed to do it, especially someone who is meant to be the face of the game here and the game globally.

"I wasn't a fan before - and I'm definitely not a fan now."

Onuoha said the former Manchester United striker then made the threats to him following another challenge shortly afterwards.

"This time he hit me on top of head. I was again thinking: 'What is going on here?'" Onuoha told BBC Sport.

"He kept saying: 'You know what? I am going to hurt you. I am going to do you. You just watch, there is enough time, I am going to do you.'"

After Ibrahimovic scored, Onuoha claims the former Sweden international told him: "You don't mess with me in the game. You don't mess with me."