''Mellberg is a player I know very well and I was already following him when I was at Chelsea. - Claudio Ranieri, January 2008.
Olof Mellberg may have been heartened by the warm welcome from his new boss at the Stadio del Alpi in January 2008, but in the back of his mind, he might have thought, Well, why didnt you sign me for them then? The Swedish international was a firm fan favourite at Villa Park and built a special report with the crowd, as exemplified by his heartfelt goodbye gesture - buying everyone in the away section at Upton Park a Villa jersey with his name and number on the back. However, the bearded behemoth has been called the greatest Swedish defender of all time by compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and he would certainly not have looked out of place at a club with the financial muscle of Chelsea. Mellberg was a fierce competitor and while he enjoyed six exemplary seasons at Villa Park, he has but an Intertoto Cup to show for it. Had Ranieri snapped him up like he had intimated he would, his bedside drawer could be bulging with medals. So that's a wrap - do you agree? 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.
