The late super-agent Mino Raiola once revealed that some of England’s most prominent clubs, including Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, harboured significant doubts about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ability to thrive in the Premier League during his prime years. This revelation came years before the Swedish striker eventually arrived at Old Trafford at the age of 34, where he would go on to silence his critics with a remarkable debut season.

The doubts from English clubs

Raiola, who represented Ibrahimovic throughout much of his illustrious career, stated in 2017 that Ferguson never made an attempt to sign the prolific forward. Speaking to talkSPORT, Raiola expressed his astonishment at the widespread reservations from English clubs. “For example, my big friend Sir Alex Ferguson never asked for him,” Raiola told talkSPORT. “There were a lot of reservations from English clubs about whether he could succeed in England, and I was always a little bit stunned by that question and by those doubts.”

The perceived lack of pace was a recurring concern, according to Raiola. He questioned whether English clubs doubted Ibrahimovic’s speed or overall quality. “In England pace is so important, maybe one of the most important attributes in the Premier League is the pace,” Raiola explained. “I don’t know if they doubted him in the pace or the quality, but it’s a question you should ask others, not me. I was never in doubt.” Raiola, however, remained steadfast in his belief that Ibrahimovic’s talent would translate anywhere.

Before making his move to England, Ibrahimovic had already established himself as one of Europe’s most decorated and feared strikers. His career had seen him win league titles across multiple top divisions:

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The Netherlands

Italy

Spain

France

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Despite this extensive pedigree, the Premier League remained an untested frontier until his arrival in the summer of 2016.

Ibrahimovic’s impactful Manchester United spell

Joining Manchester United on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic reunited with manager Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. Despite being 34 years old, an age when many strikers begin to decline, he defied expectations. In his debut campaign, Ibrahimovic proved his doubters wrong by scoring an impressive 28 goals across all competitions. His contributions were instrumental in a successful season for the Red Devils, helping them secure three significant trophies:

The Community Shield

The EFL Cup

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The UEFA Europa League

While a serious knee injury ultimately disrupted the latter stages of his Manchester United career, forcing an early departure, Ibrahimovic’s initial impact had already cemented his place as a player capable of excelling in English football. He continued to play for several more years before finally retiring from the sport in 2023, leaving behind a legacy as one of football’s most unique and prolific goalscorers.

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