A former coach of Manchester United Mike Phelan confessed that the club had always wanted to add Swede superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Red Devils squad.
Phelan was the assistant to United’s legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Currently, he is the caretaker manager of Hull City – new entrants into the Premier League, but he was Ferguson’s main man between 2008 and 2013. With Hull taking on United with the hope to claim maximum points after three games, he made the revelation that he admires the top striker as United had always wanted him.
“There have to be moments, in a career span like Sir Alex Ferguson had, when you come across and think about such players as Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The size of Manchester United means you want to recruit the very best. It demands it. He had to be a target. I am sure he was on the radar many times,” he disclosed.
Phelan said the Swedish player has only played for top clubs all through his career, comparing his signature to that of Eric Cantona who joined in 1992. He claimed Eric was “certainly a catalyst” and he “brought expectation and spirit.” He claimed Zlatan is the right player, with the right club at the right time.
Following the impressive start of the former Paris St. Germain forward, he has received a lot of accolades, with comparisons with Eric Cantona, a United legend. Many believe with the combination of Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho, Ibrahimovic’s record of winning the League in every club would be preserved. Manchester City are going to be a stiff competition with Pep Guardiola in charge, but it makes for an exciting season.
Ibrahimovic scored in the pre season games, and has three goals from two games in the Premier League so far. With no European distraction, winning the Premier League is the only target for United, and Ibrahimovic is going to be at the centre of it all.