Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubles down in ongoing war of words with LeBron James by telling NBA star that 'athletes unite the world and politics divides'

• e-mail

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has doubled down on his view that athletes should stay away from politics and activism, biting back at LeBron James. 

The AC Milan forward has been engaging in a back-and-forth disagreement with the NBA legend and has reiterated his stance on the matter after James pointed out that the Swede had himself spoken against racism in his homeland before.   

'Racism and politics are two different things. We athletes unite the world, politics divides the world,' said the 39-year-old striker said on Tuesday. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) told LeBron James that racism and politics are different spheres

'Everyone is welcome, it has nothing to do with where you are from, we do what we do to unite. We don't do other things because we are not good at it, otherwise I would be in politics.

'That's my message. Athletes must be athletes, politicians must be politicians.'

Ibrahimovic had previously told Discovery+: '[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he's doing, but I don't like it when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time. 

'Do what you're good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I'm the best at playing football.

Ibrahimovic (centre) thinks that athletes need to stay in their lane as athletes 

'I don't do politics. If I would be a political politician, I would do politics. That is the first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status.

'Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn't look good.'

At the weekend, James had responded to Zlatan's criticism by saying he was 'the wrong guy' to be arguing with.

James said: 'I would never shut up about things that are wrong. 'I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social injustice, racism, systematic voter suppression, things that go on in our community.'  

James' Instagram story on Saturday morning was a video saying: 'When y'all gone learn that... I am more than an athlete.' 

James' most recent Instagram story says: 'When y'all gone learn that I am more than an athlete'

James has stood up for a number of causes and funds the I Promise School in his native Ohio

The LA Lakers star funds the I Promise School in his native Akron, Ohio, aimed at at-risk children and students' families to ensure a stable learning experience at home. 

The third-leading scorer in NBA history also backs initiatives pursuing social justice and voting rights.

Last year, he responded to President Donald Trump's claim that he won't watch any more NBA games because people kneeled to protest systemic racism during the national anthem by saying: 'I really don't think the basketball community are sad about losing his viewership.'