HE bombed without trace at two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs and he was the often-forgotten makeweight in one of most disastrous transfers in the top-flight’s recent history.
But at the age of 36, Henrikh Mkhitaryan can make European football history by helping Inter Milan to the Champions League crown against Paris Saint-Germain.
When Alexis Sanchez switched from Arsenal to Old Trafford in January 2018 — a move announced by an infamous social-media video of the Chilean tickling the ivories with ‘Glory, Glory Man Utd’ — Mkhitaryan moved the other way.
And while Sanchez became one of United’s greatest flops, Mkhitaryan did not fare much better in north London.
The Armenian midfield man was Arsene Wenger’s penultimate Arsenal signing — and certainly not among his better ones. Mkhitaryan’s two years at Arsenal were frustrating.
And they were perhaps best summed up helping Unai Emery’s Gunners to the 2019 Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku, but he could not get a visa and missed the match because of political tensions between Armenia and host nation Azerbaijan.
Yet if Inter claim the Champions League – Mkhitaryan will become the first player to play an active role in winning the finals of all three existing European club competitions.
He both lifted the Europa League and Conference League under Jose Mourinho — with United in 2017 and Roma in 2022 — even though The Special One ditched him in that Sanchez swap deal.
The feeling was Mkhitaryan was too lightweight and passive for the Premier League.
And while United fans enjoyed his occasional moments of flair, Mourinho took against him.
Yet at Inter his experience and nous make him a key member of Simone Inzaghi’s side which narrowly missed out on the Scudetto as well as losing this season’s Italian Cup final.
They are desperate to avoid a hat-trick of runners-up medals by winning in Munich.
Mkhitaryan said: “I hope experience will count in the final. It’s not just me, I have a lot of experienced team-mates.”
He is not kidding. In Serie A, they certainly value a good veteran.
Mkhitaryan, his fellow former Man Utd player Matteo Darmian, keeper Yann Sommer and defender Francesco Acerbi were all born in the 1980s, which — terrifyingly — makes them old.
But Inter defeated Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich in the quarter- finals before coming through their epic semi-final goalfest with Barcelona — 7-6 on aggregate.
And the bookies are struggling to separate them from a far more youthful PSG side.
For Inzaghi — whose Inter side ran Pep Guardiola’s City close as rank underdogs in this fixture two years ago — tonight is likely to prove his swansong after four years at the San Siro.
On the eve of the final, he did little to dampen down rumours of an impending, money-spinning move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal.
Inzaghi, 49, said: “I will meet the club’s senior management and have a chat next week in a very relaxed manner.
“Our decision will have the best interests of Inter at heart.
“But it’s hugely exciting before a Champions League final.”
The long road to the final began with a 0-0 draw against old foes City in the league stage.
Inzaghi added: “We’ve shown a great desire ever since matchday one in the group phase at City and against some top opposition like Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
“Now we are just one step shy. We deserve to be here.
“Two years ago we played against Pep’s City — who were the best team in the world at that time — and we possibly deserved more.
“We have learned from that and we will use that experience.
“PSG are a high-quality team and they have the best ball possession statistics in the Champions League.
“But we have the most possession in Serie A this season.
“We must keep the ball and use our hard running, desire and experience if we are to bring home the trophy.”
Flanked by captain Lautaro Martinez — a World Cup winner with Argentina — and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella, Inzaghi said: “I am here with two players who bleed black and blue. They are hugely important players. I have blind faith in both of them.
“I am asking them all for concentration and determination — but not obsession because we need cool heads and free minds.
“We have Champions League and World Cup winners in the squad and we have learned a lot over our four years together.”
Martinez, who has netted nine times in this season’s Champions League, says the players will dedicate the trophy to Inzaghi if they beat PSG.
The striker, 27, said: “We’re pretty relaxed about the rumour, we hear them day in and day out about our players and coach.
“We want to dedicate this trophy to the coach as well as the fans and our families who are with us every day.
“Everything we have achieved is down to the hard work, sacrifice and humility of the team unit.”
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