As soon as AC Milan made their interest known, Arsenal had no chance.
After all, while Mikel Arteta has a fine track record when it comes to giving youth a chance, Emil Roback knew a move to Milan offered him the chance to do something every budding Swedish footballer dreams of – to train with, play alongside and learn from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“We were contacted and know about the interest. He (Roback) has met Arsenal,” Hammarby sporting director Jesper Jansson told Fotboll Direkt in April. “He has also visited Arsenal.
“He is a forward with a great physique and speed and already a skilled goalscorer.”
Four months later, however, Roback was packing his bags and heading for Italy instead, choosing Milan over the English capital.
It almost goes without saying the Sweden youth star grew up idolising a man who ripped Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League apart during goal-laden spells at AC Milan, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and Manchester United.
But the admiration, it seems, goes both ways.
“He is the future of Sweden, I can tell you now. He is a player of a completely different level,” Ibrahimovic says, via AftonBladet.
“And this is an example. He is not a typical Swedish player. He is a completely different player and he grew up in Hammarby. We have several players in Hammarby who will be something. They just have to get the chance.”
It was Roback’s maturity as much as his ability that helped him stand out at youth level. But even a teenager with his head screwed on tight could be forgiven for swooning a little.
After all, it’s not every day you’re labelled a special talent by the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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