How the Swedish superstar nearly joined Arsenal.
Zlatan Ibrahamivoc, PSG’s superstar striker, has admitted to nearly joining Arsenal earlier in his career, reports BBC Sport.
Now flying high with PSG in Ligue 1, Ibrahimovic is, and has been for some years, one of the best strikers in the world.
In 2001 though, the giant Swede turned down a potential switch to north London to try his luck in Holland, instead.
A young Ibrahimovic could of made the Arsenal invincible squad even better than it already was.
Arsenal only offered him a trial, but Ajax offered him a contract so the Swedish striker moved to the Dutch club, and repaid their faith in him famously.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ibrahimovic discussed the first time he met Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
“We were talking, and Wenger had an Arsenal shirt with the number nine and my name on it. I was like ‘wow’!
“When you see something like that you don’t care about all the other stuff. In your mind, wearing that shirt and playing with that shirt, that made me happy,” the giant striker added.
The striker though, was offended by Wenger’s decision to offer him a trial instead of a contract, and went on to prove just how wrong the French boss was.
“He said he wanted me to come and train to see how good I was. My ego kicked in. I thought: ‘I am having a meeting with him and he doesn’t know how good I am?
“What am I doing here? It became a totally different situation. If someone wants you, to buy you, they know how good you are.”
From 2003, Ibrahimovic has a won eight consecutive domestic titles, in Spain, Italy and Holland, adding a French title with PSG in 2013.
You can watch some of Ibrahimovic’s best goals below…
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