Wenger regrets not signing Ibrahimovic

March 28, 2006

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he regrets not signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic afetr taking him on trial as a teenager.

Wenger's team will come face to face with Ibrahimovic in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg.

Wenger was keen to bring him to Highbury, but Ajax won the race to sign the Swede.

"He was here at 16 but he chose to go to Ajax, which was a big disappointment because I wanted to sign him as a youngster," said Wenger.

"I regret not being able to sign him very much because he is a very talented player and he has made a big reputation for himself within Europe as one of the best strikers of his type."

Meanwhile, Wenger is hoping Arsenal can emulate Liverpool by winning this season's Champions League.

Like Liverpool last season, Arsenal's European form has eclisped their domestic performances..

"Liverpool can be a positive example for us but it does not mean that, because they did, we will automatically do it. We realise that," added Wenger.

"You can compare the two situations, but the only difference is that they went on to finish the job.

"It is a cup and the meaning of the cup is to win it.

"If you go to the semi-final and go out, people say: 'Arsenal only got to the semi-final'.

"If you get to the final and lose it, people say: 'Arsenal have lost the final', so let's just get out and try to win the game."

Subscribe to World Soccer - The essential football magazine.