Zlatan Ibrahimovic hardly had time to settle down at the podium at the Friends Arena for the national team’s qualifying matches against Russia and Austria before he got several questions about the summer transfer window.
He admitted that Milan’s interest was concrete – but otherwise so Zlatan kept the details to himself.
– As I said before when it comes to interest from other clubs, it’s Mino who take care of it. You may bring the matter with him, he said.
Okay, we thought, and called Mino Raiola.
– Milan were seriously interested and Zlatan was very proud of it. But as the whole world watched as we flew to Qatar at the invitation of the Emir and PSG’s Chairman. Where we agreed on the future, and that was it, he says.
“The Turkish press was the worst. I have not even been Turkey, okay? “
– I was therefore very surprised that the media in Turkey, Italy … Yes, worldwide continued hesitation that he would stay in Paris.
“Zlatan is too good for the league”
The rumor created during the transfer window does not fall Raiola taste. The worst thought he was the rumors that placed Zlatan in several Turkish big clubs.
– The Turkish press was the worst. I have not even been to Turkey, okay? I have not even been there. I have contacts from the three top clubs who asked for information about Zlatan. But Zlatan is too good for the league. There was no basis for their claims, it was not serious as I see it.
So they were fake?
– No, not fictional in that respect, they wanted to have him. Galatasaray did not ask me officially, it was always through other people … The market in Turkey is very strange, it is very oproffsig. It is the most oproffsiga transfer market in the world. It is not at our level.
– It was just Fenerbahçe in Turkey who were seriously interested in buying Zlatan. But they realized that they had a chance, they respected it and then there was nothing more to it.
Mino Raiola takes up the picture of him and Ibrahimovic in an airplane Zlatan published on Instagram. Raiola says that the picture was taken after they agreed with PSG and everything was fine – as he experienced it as strange that the rumors continued.
– So now I have understood that if you do not say anything at all – then you must press to start writing something – and then they write bullshit. They write rumors and assumptions, it is like they are writing a novel. No call ever asking you about facts anymore.
There are more important than football
Then he launches a theory.
– I have said this a long time, There are two different sports. The first is football that is played on the pitch, and the second is the transition game – played off the pitch. I think that the general public think that the transition game is even more important than football.
Do you really believe that?
– Yes, the transition game, one can talk about seven days a week. A football match can only discuss up to a day after the game.
– So since I’m the leading man in the transfer market so I decided that I did not want to play with the rumor. I just want to be there when I decide it …
“It was very appreciated by Zlatan”
Then find Raiola back to the original question.
– So in answer to your question, Milan was really interested? Yes, there were. They told us that if something were to allow a sale before August 31 so they would be there. It was very appreciated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, just as he said at the press conference.
– But there were other clubs who wanted him, too. There were several clubs in MLS that wanted him, there were huge bid from China. But Zlatan decided before he took leave. When he took vacation so he knew exactly what his future contained. So I’ve been very quiet when it comes to Ibrahimovic this summer.
“It’s bullshit”
You said that the press will find on when there is not anything to write so I have to ask, on deadlineday wrote The Evening Standard that Arsenal were interested in Zlatan. Was there any truth to the rumors?
– No, that was bullshit. The rumor came from the hands that make The Sun. And I have always said that various newspapers have different functions. The only function that The Sun is to clean your car window with. And then I’m kind, five years ago I would have said that it was to wipe her ass with.
“Then I think, why call ye even? It’s a waste of time “
Haha, but you’re more diplomatic now then?
– No, but I get older and then I want to try and be a bit more elegant. So some newspapers used only to clean the car window, for it has not even been a discussion regarding Zlatan Arsenal. That’s bullshit.
– You know, people call me and ask: “Is there any truth in the rumors that places Zlatan Arsenal” – and I say no. Then you see anyway the next day that it has been printed in the newspaper. Then I think, why call ye even? It is a waste of time. So that’s why I’m not part of it anymore.
– The sources that journalists have is the internet. When someone throws something, it becomes “fact”. Though it’s a reputation that journalists take as fact. So I see sports journalism is a strange animal. For it consists to 99 percent of the rumors.
Fields players mainly
So that’s why you do not want to be a part of the game anymore, so to speak?
– No. My main goal is to represent my players and put their best interests first. So I do not want to say anything that might jeopardize the club’s decision regarding the player. My only concern is my players. If I had wished I had been able to be in all the newspapers all over the world every day. But I do not want. It is not the goal of my job, but it is to do the best for my players. So if I’m out talking so it can affect a club’s decision-making process, and it does not promote my players.
– I must be careful, for it is like the stock market. When someone is talking, it affects the price, it can go up or down. I am a player in this world, so I have to be discreet and not play the game for journalists. I always tell reporters that “I’m not working for you – I’m working for my players.”
“He is the best”
Speaking of your players as Zlatan in its last year with PSG. So I’m curious about his future. You have previously said that he can play until he’s 42, 43. Do you think he will continue playing in Europe’s biggest leagues or will he look to as China or MLS that you mentioned?
– You know, I think that Zlatan has surprised herself even. Because in my eyes he is the best striker, and I’m not saying that to butter up or anything like that. But it’s just so. For all the clubs I travel to all the clubs I talk to – all looking for Ibrahimovic. If they had been able to get him, they had taken him. But they know, in any case, the serious clubs know that PSG will not sell him. PSG will not sell him because they have no replacement for Zlatan. Why have they not a replacement? For there is no replacement for Zlatan. Because he’s the best.
“Zlatan is too proud for that, he’s one of the big winners”
– And he just gets even more fit. Even smarter and more aware of what he can and can not do with her body. So it’s more up to his attitude and desire. He still wants? Zlatan is not a person who signs a three-year contract and sitting by the time on the bench, just to get the contract. He is not such a person, he’s too proud for that, he’s one of the big winners and too great a perfectionist for that.
Excludes game in Malmo
– So actually it is very simple. We know it is the last year of this contract. We are glad that we are here and we take it as it comes. I have already many requests from various clubs in force next summer. So the future is not a problem, he will not be unemployed if he does not want it yourself. There are requests from exotic places like China and the MLS – to other clubs. But we do not want to go into now. We want to focus on this season and then we will see what happens.
– And I have a feeling for what is going to happen – he was going to go – but I want to keep it to myself . He knows what it is, because I have said it to him, but I do not want to reveal what it is.
I just have to ask, it’s sure many who dream of Malmo FF – not least given that they have gone to the CL group stage two years in a row – that Zlatan should come home and play. Is there a chance to come home and play in Sweden?
– No, not in the near future. Perhaps he becomes a coach or something in Malmö, it would be an interesting option. But it’s just a thought that I have now. But he will not be returning as a player in the near future, no.
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