Football
Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals brutal response to Arsene Wenger's Arsenal trial offer
Zlatan Ibrahimovic bullishly told Arsene Wenger "I don't do trials" after the legendary Frenchman attempted to sign him for Arsenal.
The talismanic Swede recently retired from playing after 24 years as a professional, signing off from Football at the age of 41 after scoring 511 in 856 Games at club level, in addition to 62 in 122 with the Sweden national team.
He played for some of Europe's biggest clubs - Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG and Manchester United - and also enjoyed a two-year spell in the United States with LA Galaxy.
Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo in his native Sweden, during which time he had the opportunity to visit Arsenal and discuss a move to north London.
But in an interview with Piers Morgan, Ibrahimovic explained he was intensely against the idea of only going on trial at Arsenal and so reneged on their arrangement.
"When I was young, I had a lot of interest from a lot of clubs, and one of them was Arsenal," he said. "So, I came to the office of Mr Arsene Wenger, and it was a big hype because I saw these players, Bergkamp, Henry, I saw Ljungberg, I saw Vieira, I saw all these players, and I was like 'F**k, this is big', because these players I see on TV, even if I already played in high level Sweden.
- LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF 90MIN'S ARSENAL PODCAST, THE CHRONICLES OF A GOONER: REACTION TO RC LENS 2-1 ARSENAL IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
"But this was big, because this was like, 'I am here now'. Last week I was playing PlayStation with these guys. And I spoke with Wenger, and he has this French, he was tall, I didn't expect him to be so tall.
"I came in his office and we spoke and he was like, 'What do you want?' He wanted to get to know me, to feel me. Because I think he is a type of person, he just don't buy the player, he wants to know what he is buying I think. In the end, he had an Arsenal shirt with number nine and, 'We want you to come and do a trial for two weeks'.
"Everything was good until he said you come and do a trial. I was looking at him. Obviously he is Wenger, I am nobody at that moment. I said, 'I don't do trials', and he was like, 'What do you mean?'
"'I don't do trials, either you want me or you don't want me, or else why am I here?' That was me, but it was not to play a Game, it was me. 'No, but you have to come and do a trial' and then, 'No, no, you don't understand, I don't do trials'. That was it, I never went to Arsenal."
READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
-
Football1h ago
rr Jude Bellingham and co benefit from Barcelona’s misstep as Real Madrid clinch La Liga Title
-
Football1h ago
rr Man Utd goalkeeper Andre Onana stunned fans when he owned a private Gulfstream G200 plane worth 26 million euros, traveling everywhere with his family
-
Football2h ago
Lionel Messi Teams Up with Suarez to Launch Bar Next to His Restaurant in Castelldefels
-
Football2h ago
Lionel Messi Thrilled as he Claims First-Ever MLS Player of the Month Award with Inter Miami
-
Football3h ago
Mikey Johnston WBA Stay Goes Into Overtime
-
Football3h ago
Joe Hart Praises “Big Moments” Celtic Star
-
Football3h ago
The Euro rule change that could prolong season for more Liverpool players
-
Football3h ago
Houston Dash vs. Kansas City Current NWSL score: Vlatko Andonovski's side earns draw after long weather delay