Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 41, has a friend, Thece Sligers, who is terminally ill with cancer.
During a party in Seliger’s name, the Swede called.
– I just want to say I love you, my friend, Zlatan said with teary eyes on the ESPN broadcast.
Theges Sligers, PSV Eindhoven’s press director, has terminal leukemia.
Yesterday, a party was organized by Sligers and ESPN to encourage people to become stem cell donors. Zlatan Ibrahimovic visited during the evening via video call.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved from Malmö to Ajax when he was 19 years old. Soon after the move, Zlatan and Slegers met, at that time the 46-year-old was a journalist.
They later became good friends, and the Swede had nothing but good things to say about the Dutchman during the ceremony.
– I will always remember, he was my only friend in Holland. When I lost, I was young, I was so confused. I didn’t have anyone in Holland. Then this journalist called me, and at that time the journalists were not my friends, but on the contrary they were my enemies, says Zlatan in ESPN.
Can’t stop the tears
In the broadcast, Siegler is seen smiling at Zlatan’s words.
– Slers called me and we had dinner together and became really good friends. We played tennis, hung out, it helped me a lot. He gave me all the support I needed during my first step in my career.
– I even wrote about theses in my book. I was so grateful for everything and we are still in touch. He’s gone straight into my heart from that moment on, Tejs, I just want to say I love you my friend, says Zlatan as he wipes away the tears running down his cheeks.
Even Siegler starts crying in the same way, at the same time as huge applause spreads through the audience.
Thijs Segler’s campaign has so far succeeded in getting 10,000 people to sign up as stem cell and blood donors, according to Eindhovens Dagblad.
