Mino Raiola claims Zlatan Ibrahimovic “told me he wanted to end his career at Napoli”.
The Swedish striker joined Manchester United this summer, but his agent says he has a special affinity for Naples.
“At [Ciro] Ferrara’s farewell match, Ibrahimovic told me he wanted to end his career at Napoli,” Raiola said on Radio Crc.
Mino Raiola claims Zlatan Ibrahimovic “told me he wanted to end his career at Napoli”.
The Swedish striker joined Manchester United this summer, but his agent says he has a special affinity for Naples.
“At [Ciro] Ferrara’s farewell match, Ibrahimovic told me he wanted to end his career at Napoli,” Raiola said on Radio Crc.
“I won’t tell you if [President Aurelio] De Laurentiis called me for Ibra. What I can say is that none of the Italian clubs could afford Zlatan. Ibra definitely has a Neapolitan mentality though.
“Mario Balotelli? I didn’t want him to play in Italy again, it would have been an excuse for him. It’s definitely a special city for Mario though, as his daughter lives there and the Neapolitan fans are unique.
“Gonzalo Higuain? I’d have sold Higuain at a figure even less than €90m [which Napoli got from Juventus]. It was a brilliant operation for Napoli.
“Selling and then regretting it always better than not selling and regretting.”
Raiola also gave his opinion on this season’s Champions League, and had some scathing criticism of UEFA.
“In football the result should always be a surprise, otherwise Leicester never would have won the [English Premier] League.
“The Champions League though is killing the Leagues and the federations are allowing UEFA to do it: the FIFC has let it become the biggest competitor to Serie A.
“Everyone talks about the Champions League, but it’s not a great platform because the same four or five always win.
“We know that in all probability Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City will get to the end, and there might be some outsiders like Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain.
“The Champions League is a bit bigger than a normal League, but the boredom of knowing more or less who will win is real.
“It’s strange that UEFA – i.e an organisation of federations – can become a trading company which organises a tournament and then that tournament is the biggest competitor to the Premier League, the Bundesliga or Serie A.
“Football needs a revolution, and to do that you need to break away from UEFA and create a non-European League that everyone can enter.
“For many years, clubs have been afraid to leave the system, then this year they threatened to do so but were happy with more money – not realising that they’re killing the Leagues.
“Let me give you an example: can Bologna aspire to the Champions League? No, and by doing so the gap between those clubs participating in continental competition and those that aren’t increases more and more.
“UEFA is monopolist.”
Finally, Raiola was asked about the title races in Italy and in England.
“Could Napoli do well in the Champions League? I don’t know, because Napoli aren’t used to going far in this competition, and it’s also a question of culture.
“I’ve always said that the biggest problem in Naples is the expectation. We’re talking about an important Italian club, and I think that Napoli will fight for the Scudetto, on paper they’re perhaps the only team who can cause Juventus problems.
“The Premier League? I could never cheer a team Coached by [Pep] Guardiola, so I can’t sit here and tell you that Manchester City will win.
“I don’t know who will win the League, but I hope it’s not City. [Manchester] United are coming from some difficult years, and losing to City like they did will give them strength.”