The recent statements by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who assured that Panama will be “the punching bag of Group L” in the 2026 World Cup, have caused a wave of reactions among Panamanian fans.
But, in addition to criticizing his words, many users on social networks have rescued one of the most viral and commented moments of the former Swedish forward’s career: the controversial photograph with Gerard Piqué during his time at Barcelona.
The image, captured in 2010 in the parking lot of the Barça sports city, showed both footballers talking very closely while Ibrahimovic held the hand of the then Spanish defender.
The snapshot unleashed rumors, jokes and headlines around the world, becoming one of the most remembered episodes of that season.
The episode occurred when Piqué and Ibrahimovic shared a dressing room at FC Barcelona under the orders of Pep Guardiola. OR
A photographer captured the players talking next to a car at the club’s facilities and the image quickly went viral, fueling all kinds of speculation about the relationship between the two.
More than a decade later, Gerard Piqué himself decided to clarify what had really happened.
During a broadcast of the After Kings program, the former Spanish international explained that it was all a casual conversation in the club parking lot and that the photograph was completely taken out of context.
“In that photo we are in the club parking lot. There is my car and there is the press. I could eat my mouth with Zlatan, but not in the club parking lot.”the former defender commented with a laugh.
Piqué also recalled that the commotion was so great that, the next day, a tabloid journalist asked Ibrahimovic directly about the rumors generated by the image. The Swede’s response, faithful to his challenging style, did not go unnoticed either.
“No, no, you and your sister come home now and I will prove that I am not gay.”responded the former forward, according to Piqué himself.
