Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost joined Sunderland TWICE before he signed for Juventus
Former Black Cats boss Peter Reid reveals he tried to the super Swede from Malmo and then Ajax
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ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC could have been a Sunderland player if Peter Reid had got his way.
The Manchester United hitman has won 31 club trophies over a 16-year period in which the Black Cats have bagged just two Championship titles.
It might have been a very different story if former Sunderland boss Reid has been successful in one of his two attempts to sign Super swede Ibra.
Reid told the Mail: "I liked his physique and I liked his feet.
"I tried. I tried. When he was at Malmo I tried to get him but he went to Ajax.
"We were at Roker Park, but no chance. I didn't have that clout to attract him.
"When he was at Ajax, we'd moved to the Stadium of Light so I went over, had a meeting.
"I thought I had a chance, but no. We offered £6million which was decent dough, but they wanted more.
"I saw him walk past and he smiled. But no conversation."
Ibra, 36, is said to be targeting a comeback from injury against Arsenal on December 2.
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Recently, Zlatan claimed he is hoping to come back stronger than ever, saying: "I feel good.
"I have trained every day since I had my knee operated on, there is no vacation.
"It's a new challenge but I am strong mentally and when I focus on an objective nothing can stop me.
"I feel good and I feel my movements are there. If it was up to me I would like to play football today but it doesn't work like that.
"I need to have patience and that's the way we work. We are in no rush, when we are ready we will be ready.
"When I am playing again I don't want any excuses that I was injured, or 'he just came back, this is his first game'.
"No, I want to feel the same pressure I had before because everything happened. I am looking forward to that moment."