Agent Enzo Raiola revealed that Pisa were one of the clubs interested in signing Micky van de Ven before his move to Tottenham and gave his thoughts on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new role at Milan.
Ibrahimovic hung up his boots at the end of last season and recently returned to the Rossoneri in a management role, officially working as a consultant to club owners RedBird. He is considered an important point of reference for his former teammates and is playing a role in the backroom.
Raiola also represents Tottenham talent Van de Ven, who headed to North London last summer from VfL Wolfsburg in a deal worth around €40m. He quickly proved himself an exciting figure in Ange Postecoglou’s squad before suffering a hamstring injury in a loss to Chelsea in November.
Speaking to DAZN, Raiola first discussed Ibrahimovic’s future after joining the backroom staff at Milan.
“In today’s football environment he can do everything, from president to sporting director. I don’t know about being a coach, he isn’t convinced, but he could definitely think about it. His presence is already something, having him alongside us in our agency is important and exceptional.
“His advice is enough, his word… He always says the right things and when he has to say something, he picks up the phone and does it directly.
“Unlike others who are more egocentric, he has always worked for the good of the team. A 10-time Ballon d’Or winner if there was one for the most influential player in a team.”
He touched on the Swede’s suitability to the role.
“He took his time, he reflected on what he could give and do. He’s not someone who improvises. Ibrahimovic is so intelligent that, of course, we also met for this decision a few times, but even Mino in recent years let him be, managed by things.”
He suggested that Ibrahimovic represented the late Mino Raiola best on the pitch.
“Definitely, I agree. Especially in the last few months I saw them talking together and Mino smiled when he saw him, as well as with some of his other players.
“He lit up, in those months we experienced it when one of his players was there. In those moments he joked, laughed, seemed healed.”
Finally, Raiola revealed an interesting backstory about Tottenham talent Van de Ven.
“In 2019-2020, many American-owned clubs asked me for Van de Ven, who is now at Tottenham, because at Volendam he was already a top player due to the stats he recorded. In Italy, Pisa were one of the first to ask for him, then they were fighting to get up to Serie A.”