Report: USA is "next natural step" for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, though not necessarily for soccer

Indefatigable source for news on all things Zlatan, Sweden's Aftonbladet, has found additional information to add to last week's report that Ibra had applied for the sort of visa that would let him hang out in the US for a while: he has a contract with "Universal Studios".

Zlatan: the movie! Maybe. The report says the contract was signed in March, and describes the man who announced it, Pascal Negre, as the head of Universal Studios France. "We build brands, and this is a great day for us," say Negre, per Aftonbladet's report.

Corporate responsibilities can be rather fluid, especially for a senior figure like Negre. But he built his reputation in music, and is generally referred to as the head of Universal Music France. As of January 2013, he would also appear to be Universal Music Group's head of global new business. Zlatan certainly qualifies as global new business. But Universal Music does not qualify as Universal Studios.

UMG is owned by French media-conglomerate Vivendi. Universal Studios is owned by NBCUniversal (Vivendi had a stake, but sold it in 2011).

Zlatan: the album! Or maybe the movie - it's not as though the two Universals don't know each other, and once you're in the entertainment biz, you can entertain in as many ways as you want.

Anyway, the important news here is Zlatan has a contract with a big media company called Universal. And it is part of a master plan that includes the USA as "the next natural step", per Aftonbladet's sources.

Those sources may not quite have their global media conglomerates straight, but let's hope they're clear on Zlatan's plans because they say the "difficult question" for Zlatan to resolve is "New York or Los Angeles".

New York, Zlatan. The answer is New York. And not the pale blue tenants in the Bronx, either. Or the guys in green renting a lacrosse field. There is one stage fit for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in this area: Red Bull Arena, the home of the New York Red Bulls.

It could be a while yet, however.

The Swedish paper reports Zlatan has all sorts of exciting things ahead, as you might expect for an international soccer star who is not shy. It is said he wants to do many of those things in the USA, but also that he plans to see out his contract with PSG, which would mean he'd be approaching his 35th birthday by the time he saw any meaningful action in MLS (assuming a mid-2016 transfer is indeed on the cards).

Still, any Zlatan is good Zlatan - as he demonstrated most recently in PSG's 4-1 win over St. Etienne in the semi-final of the French Cup.

Whenever you're ready, Zlatan. New York will be waiting.