Fergie wanted to sign Ibrahimovic for Man United

Matt Stead

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was often a target for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, according to Mike Phelan.

Former PSG striker Ibrahimovic joined United this summer and has made an immediate impact, scoring four goals in only three appearances for the club.

Ferguson’s former assistant manager Phelan will have to try stop the Swede when the Red Devils visit Hull on Saturday, and he admits he could have been coaching Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford.

“There has to be moment in a career span like Sir Alex Ferguson had that there were moments when you come across and think about such star players as Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” Phelan told the Manchester Evening News.

“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. But he was at top, top clubs and because of that, even though it was Manchester United, the prospect of him moving to the Premier League was always very slim because he was at the best anyway.

“He has not been outside of one of the top clubs in the world in his career. When somebody has hold of a talent like that they are not looking to let him go until they are ready.

“He would have been on the radar but they can be on your radar but you cannot always get them. The best is at the best so it is very difficult to do deals.”