Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits he was all set to join Arsenal - many years ago - until manager Arsene Wenger only offered him a trial.
The Milan striker was just a teenager when he met Wenger to discuss a move to north London.
Now 30, the Swede says he was even handed a Gunners' shirt with his name on it but was taken aback when he was told he would have to participate in a trial.
Talking about his meeting with Wenger in 2000, Ibrahimovic told The Sun: "Arsene gave me the famous red and white jersey. The number nine shirt with Ibrahimovic was on it and I was so pleased I even posed for a picture wearing it.
"It was a fantastic moment for me. Arsenal had a great team then and here was an Arsenal shirt made just for me.
"So then I waited for him to convince me that I should join Arsenal. But he didn't even try.
"He never actually made me a serious offer, it was more, 'I want to see how good you are, what kind of player you are. Have a trial'.
"I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'No way, Zlatan doesn't do auditions'. I thought 'You either know me or you don't and if you don't know me you can't really want me'."
Ibrahimovic went to Ajax instead of the Premier League, and he followed that by spells at Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and now Milan.
On Tuesday, Ibrahimovic will turn out for Milan in their Champions League game at the Emirates against Arsenal who lost the first leg in Italy 4-0 when the well-travelled forward netted from the penalty spot.
Now 30, the Swede says he was even handed a Gunners' shirt with his name on it but was taken aback when he was told he would have to participate in a trial.
Talking about his meeting with Wenger in 2000, Ibrahimovic told The Sun: "Arsene gave me the famous red and white jersey. The number nine shirt with Ibrahimovic was on it and I was so pleased I even posed for a picture wearing it.
"It was a fantastic moment for me. Arsenal had a great team then and here was an Arsenal shirt made just for me.
"So then I waited for him to convince me that I should join Arsenal. But he didn't even try.
"He never actually made me a serious offer, it was more, 'I want to see how good you are, what kind of player you are. Have a trial'.
"I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'No way, Zlatan doesn't do auditions'. I thought 'You either know me or you don't and if you don't know me you can't really want me'."
Ibrahimovic went to Ajax instead of the Premier League, and he followed that by spells at Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and now Milan.
On Tuesday, Ibrahimovic will turn out for Milan in their Champions League game at the Emirates against Arsenal who lost the first leg in Italy 4-0 when the well-travelled forward netted from the penalty spot.
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