Zlatan Ibrahimovic would bring a title-winning mentality to Arsenal were the Gunners to target the PSG striker in the summer, according to Rio Ferdinand.
The 34-year-old’s contract at the Parc des Princes expires at the end of the season but Ibrahimovic proved on Wednesday against Chelsea that his age is no barrier to performances at the top level.
Ibrahimovic found Adrien Rabiot for PSG’s opener before converting Angel di Maria’s cross for a crucial second away goal in the second period, effectively putting the tie beyond Chelsea.
A series of Premier League sides, including Manchester United and Arsenal, have been linked with a move for Ibrahmovic and the striker did little to dispel those links after the first leg of the Chelsea tie in February, responding to a question over a Premier League move by saying: “Let’s just say I am in good shape.”
Arsenal were made aware at the close of the summer transfer window that PSG would have considered an offer for Ibrahimovic and Ferdinand was among the BT Sport pundits to urge Arsene Wenger to revive that deal in the summer.
“If he was on a free transfer, I’d love to see him play in the Premier League. It’d be marvellous for the Premier League,” Glenn Hoddle said on BT Sport after PSG’s win.
“I think he’d suit Arsenal. I think he’d suit Chelsea. If you want to press, with Man City if Pep’s coming in, probably no, but he’s a wonderful footballer.”
Ferdinand added: “If you’re saying Arsenal, what he’d bring to them is a mentality that they’re lacking.
“A mentality to get over the line and win titles. He’s done that more than anyone.”
Ibrahimovic turned down a trial at Arsenal as a teenager in 2000, recounting in his autobiography that he had not regretted that decision.
He wrote: “I just sat in silence and was bashful, but after a while I lost my patience. Something about Wenger set me off. He would leap up every so often to check who was outside his window.
“It seemed as if he wanted to keep an eye on everything, and he kept going on about one thing all the time.”
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