Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic, even at age 34, is worth bringing over to MLS

He always has been. The big Swedish striker has scored magical goals throughout his winding career with Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, and with his national team. He has entertained us with his fearless play and his outsized personality. And now, at age 34, he's a free agent. His contract with PSG is about to be up and he's free to go where he chooses.

Zlatan doesn't score lucky goals. Goals are lucky to be scored by Zlatan. #ZlatanFacts https://t.co/2jfZgvkNd5
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) May 5, 2016
He may be in decline, becoming more static in recent years. Or maybe he isn't, scoring a career-high 36 league goals this season, as PSG rampaged to another French league title. That's made it 152 goals in 178 appearances over four seasons in the French capital.

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And now there's talk he might come to MLS.

Zlatan once went out for a bike ride and accidentally won the Tour de France. #ZlatanFacts
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) May 4, 2016
Per ESPN FC, the Los Angeles Galaxy are in talks to bring him stateside. This brings up a whole host of questions. Namely, how in the world will the Galaxy fit him onto its roster, when they already have the maximum of three designated players? And when another, Nigel de Jong, will be owed a DP slot if he plays a certain number of games this year?

Yes, Steven Gerrard's contract is up after the season, and Robbie Keane might retire. But Zlatan is a free agent now, not after the season. And there's lots of competition for his signature, all around the world, suggesting that he might not be into some kind of loan deal to tide him over until the DP logjam clears up.

Zlatan doesn't dial the wrong number. You pick up the wrong phone. #ZlatanFacts
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) May 2, 2016
The alternative, of course, is for MLS to change its rules on the fly again and somehow accommodate a Zlatan-to-Galaxy move. After all, it's done this sort of thing – making exceptions and new rules to sign the right kinds of players – so many times before that there isn't much credibility to be lost anymore on that score.

Zlatan knows Victoria's Secret. #ZlatanFacts
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) April 24, 2016
However the Galaxy were to swing it, Zlatan's availability and apparent interest in coming to MLS brings up a discussion about whether MLS should want him, signing him at the peril of perpetuating the retirement league label. We here at FC Yahoo applauded MLS teams for passing on aging Chelsea defender John Terry. Indeed, few older stars remain who can still make a difference on the field and truly move the needle off it. Because most of them already play in MLS.

Zlatan, however, is an exception.

Zlatan wakes up his alarm clock every morning. #ZlatanFacts
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) March 20, 2016
The progress MLS has made ensures that it now gets to pick and choose which stars are still worth signing. It doesn't need all the ones it can get anymore, desperate for attention and traction. That's a hard-won prerogative. And so it can afford to turn away Terry.

Zlatan is worth bringing over, though, however it happens.

Because Zlatan is special.

Zlatan makes onions cry. #ZlatanFacts
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) March 9, 2016