Mario Balotelli’s career problems are down to racism, claims agent Mino Raiola, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Inter move had nothing to do with Calciopoli.
Raiola gave an extensive interview to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, covering a wide variety of subjects, including some of his most famous clients.
“I’d call Balotelli up for Euro 2016 because he is the best Italian striker. In 1982 Enzo Bearzot called up Paolo Rossi despite the fact he was returning from a ban and we won the World Cup.
Mario Balotelli’s career problems are down to racism, claims agent Mino Raiola, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Inter move had nothing to do with Calciopoli.
Raiola gave an extensive interview to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, covering a wide variety of subjects, including some of his most famous clients.
“I’d call Balotelli up for Euro 2016 because he is the best Italian striker. In 1982 Enzo Bearzot called up Paolo Rossi despite the fact he was returning from a ban and we won the World Cup.
“I am confident Mario will win over Antonio Conte with his actions and goals for Milan. This lad is too stressed and always being judged. He’s got a great heart.
“Italy is light years behind in terms of racism and the country is not ready to have such a strong black player in their squad. Even unconsciously, black players have to prove twice as much as anyone else in football.”
Another of Raiola’s clients who often hits the headlines is Ibrahimovic, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in June.
“For the first time in his career, he wants to take all the time in the world to evaluate and make his decision. There are many projects out there, but thinking of a return to Italy is fantasy football.”
Ibra caused controversy when leaving Juventus in the middle of the Calciopoli crisis to join arch rivals Inter in 2006, but Raiola reveals the situation was misunderstood.
“The move had already been decided many months earlier, when we had no idea what was going to happen to Juventus.
“The day after an important Champions League game, I went to Luciano Moggi and told him I had to take Zlatan away. Moggi was furious and replied: ‘In that case bring me €1 more than what Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane, €85m.’
“I told Zlatan that right now Inter were the team that needed him the most and I reached an agreement with Massimo Moratti and Marco Branca for €85m.
“It was all decided. Then over the summer, with the explosion of Calciopoli, Moratti made the most of Juve’s difficult situation and Moggi’s departure to sign Zlatan at a good price.”
Inter eventually completed their swoop for the Swede at just €24.8m.