Mino Raiola dismissed suggestions he had disturbed Manchester United with his controversial comments on Paul Pogba’s future in December.
Raiola risked the wrath of the United hierarchy last year after claiming his client was ‘unhappy’ at Old Trafford and that he would actively seek a new challenge this summer.
BBC Sport
Mino Raiola is one of football’s most powerful agents
Pogba has been in inspired form for the Red Devils since then, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealing that the club are said to be open to discussing a new contract with the Frenchman.
In an interview, BBC Sport Raiola responded to these remarks and refuted any suggestion that he tried to offend anyone at United by “ simply expressing an opinion ”.
“I just expressed an opinion, I didn’t want to cause a problem,” Raiola said.
“I don’t think that unsettled anyone because they had a fantastic race and they were even first, for a while, in the league.
“You think great players like Paul Pogba – or [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer, who has won everything in his life – is he unsettled by what Mino Raiola says? Come please. But I don’t talk about it anymore. It makes life a little boring, but it is.
Frank Raiola – whose top-tier rooster includes figures like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Matthijs de Ligt and Marco Verratti – added: “Every time I give my opinion everyone in England goes berserk.
AFP
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“So I’m the worst agent, or the best agent… and the clubs are so stressed out by the public and the journalists that I’ve learned not to talk about it a lot.
Meanwhile, Raiola believes teenage Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland is set to become “ one of the future stars of the next decade ” with growing speculation about his future.
Haaland, who is among 70 players on Raiola’s books, only joined Dortmund a year ago but has already been linked with a major move from the club.
And Raiola has hinted that the Premier League could be Haaland’s next destination, as four of 10 clubs that could afford the Norwegian striker face off in England’s top flight.
Haaland is one of the hottest properties in world football
“It’s obvious everyone sees Erling as one of those potential new future stars because it’s so hard to do what he’s doing at his age at his level,” said the 53-year-old.
“He will be one of the future stars of the next decade because we see that stars like Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo and Messi are coming to an age where everyone is asking, ‘How long can we still enjoy this? Everyone is therefore looking for the new generation.
“Only a maximum of 10 clubs can afford to buy [Haaland] and give the platform you want after being in Dortmund … and four of those clubs are [England].
“I don’t think there is a sporting director or a coach in the world who would say ‘not interested’. It’s like saying, “Is there a Formula 1 team that wouldn’t be interested in Lewis Hamilton?”
