There was once a striker who defined a generation, making his mark both in Italy and England while writing his name into the folklore of both Juventus and Manchester United.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, despite arriving at Old Trafford in his mid-30s and spending only a year and a half in that famous red shirt, will forever be remembered with a great deal of fondness in this particular corner of England’s north west.
Until Marcus Rashford slammed home 30 for Erik ten Hag in 2022/23, Ibrahimovic’s tally of 28 was the best mustered by any Manchester United player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. And with Wembley winners against both Leicester and Southampton in the Community Shield and the EFL Cup, the Swedish sensation was a driving force behind a treble of sorts under Jose Mourinho too.
Had things worked out differently, had a recurring ankle injury not curtailed his own progress, maybe now we would be talking about Raffaele Palladino in similarly adoring tones.
Manchester United once wanted Raffaele Palladino
Palladino, like Ibrahimovic, made his name in Italy with Juventus.
He would, however, turn down the chance to join Manchester United in a potential £13 million back in 2007. A decision he insists he does not regret, despite then embarking upon a rather nomadic career around Italy’s B-level teams while United would go on to win the Premier League and Champions League double under Sir Alex Ferguson 12 months after their interest emerged.
“Regrets? No, I gave everything. I was a great professional,” Palladino recalls, speaking to SoFoot. “At 21, 22 years old I was a starter at Juventus. Many teams like Manchester United looked for me.
“I didn’t want to go because I didn’t speak English well and I was happy where I was.
“Ibra was my idol. They nicknamed me PallaIbra. That summer, I had many requests but (Juventus coach Didier) Deschamps, after seeing me for a week of training, took me aside and told me; “You have to stay here because you will have space.
“I listened to him and I didn’t regret it.”
Now a coach who idolises Pep Guardiola
Palladino, at a time when Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez were blossoming into the most fearsome frontline in European football, was turning plenty of heads in Turin. That was, however, until those fitness issues begun.
“The only flaw (was) the injuries,” now-39-year-old Palladino adds. “At 24, I started having problems with my ankles. I had to have surgery. I retired at 34 having given everything.”
Palladino is now hoping to carve out a more successful career in management. Inspired by the teachings of one Pep Guardiola, he is part of a new breed of forward-thinking Italian tacticians such as Thiago Motta and Roberto de Zerbi.
Palladino, capped three times by Italy, took an ambitious Monza side to 11 in Serie A last season. With a few weeks left of this campaign, a first-ever top-half finish is within grasp.