It’s Transfer Window time, so agents speaking about their clients will definitely make the headlines
While his bid for the FIFA Presidency seems to have been forgotten about, Mino Riaola is still making sure his name is all over the papers today. He spoke to Gazzetta Dello Sport today and two of his biggest clients were the main topics of discussion.
First up was Mario Balotelli, who has not exactly been a roaring success since he landed at Liverpool. Despite denials that he is leaving the club by Brendan Rodgers, many suspect that if Liverpool got any sort of reasonable offer, they would let the striker leave.
However, the bold Mino has other ideas. He said:
“I saw him on Monday and told him: ‘You’ve got a four-year contract here and I’m not taking you anywhere else. Either you leave Liverpool for 60-70 million euros, and I win my bet, or you will die there.’
“It’s the first time I’ve spoken in such a way to a player. I saw him relaxed, changed and different to how he was at Milan. He was used to everybody liking him and finding room wherever he was, but it’s not like that at Liverpool. Either you do as they say, or you’re out.
“This period with Liverpool is the biggest lesson he has had. He’s applying himself a lot now and his private life has calmed down too. It’s not worth asking if Liverpool are the right club for him any more — they are the only club for him.”
As it is more likely that Steve Staunton will be transferred for €70m than Balotelli at the minute it looks like he is staying at Anfield.
Perhaps even more interesting was the talk about another Riaola client, Paul Pogba. The young Frenchman has been in sensational form for Juventus, and speculation has been rife that he is bound for a monster money move somewhere in the summer. Mino didn’t exactly pour cold water on the idea.
“I want the club that buys him to believe in him and be willing to pay for him. If Paul leaves Juventus, it is for the absolute top. If it does not happen this year, it will be next year.
“Paul is at the same level economically as the other big stars and has a similar reputation, so he could stay for another year.
“But Paul is the only major star who is available at the end of the season. If you cannot take Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you can only go for Paul.
“If someone wants him, the market situation could see him go for more than €100 million (£74m).”
You won’t get a clearer ‘come and get him’ plea than that.
