Who hasn't Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost signed for? It seems that the Swedish maverick had so many trials all over Europe as a youngster, that it would seriously make one question the nous and competency of some of the scouts who turned him down. Having famously walked out on Arsenal in gloriously petulant fashion for having the temerity to ask him to undertake a trial, another footballing anecdote states that a 16 year old Ibrahimovic told a coach to 'f*** off' during a failed QPR trial. In a tell-all book, written by Zlatan's friend Tony Flygare, he documented the extraordinary incident, after they were both sent on trial to the second-tier side for a week while Gerry Francis was manager in 1998.
''Zlatan was holding on to the ball for too long and the trainer tackled him when he wasn't expecting it. For that, Zlatan tackled him back and then told the trainer to 'f**** off'. He went mad at Zlatan. Being in England was so much different. He just told Zlatan 'for that, you're going to breathe through your a***. I'll never forget it. We didn't hear from QPR again. Zlatan didn't want to play or stay in England, that is my opinion.'' - Tony Flygare, March 2014.
Perhaps it was for these impressions of the English game as a teenager that Zlatan never ventured to the Premier League during his incredibly successful career. Lord knows Charlie Austin could do with the goal-scoring Swede alongside him this season. So that's a wrap - what do you think? Have there have been any glaring omissions from this list - maybe the likes of Michael Dawson or Olivier Giroud? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
