Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘wants to stay in England’… but that may not be with Manchester United, says agent Mino Raiola
Super agent admits Swedish star has had 'a lot of offers' and could carry on his glittering career at another club
Sponsored by
SUPER agent Mino Raiola has said that Zlatan Ibrahimovic "wants to stay in England" - but that it may not be with Manchester United.
The Swedish striker ended a successful first season at United with a serious injury and is yet to decide his next move.
The 35-year-old signed a one-year deal to play under Jose Mourinho, but his future was thrown into doubt after he tore his ACL in the Europa League semi-final against Anderlecht.
And Raiola - who also brokered the world record deal for Paul Pogba to return to Old Trafford - admits the veteran striker's future is far from decided.
Raiola told : "There is a possibility [he stays] but also that he does not.
"We have talked, he has a lot of offers and ideas that we have to evaluate.
most read in football
"He's had a fantastic time at United and it's now up to us and the club to decide.
"We have a date for that but now is time to recover."
Raiola was then asked if Ibrahimovic wanted to stay at Manchester United.
He replied: "[Ibrahimovic] wants to stay in England and at the top.
"If he sees he is a valuable asset for United he will stay.
"But he knows he can valuable asset for other top clubs also.
"I think it is respectful to talk to Manchester United and see what all parties want."
Another one of Raoila's clients who could be moving clubs in the summer is Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.
The big Belgian has refused to pen a new deal at Goodison Park and a number of clubs - including Manchester United - are reported to be interested.
He told : "[Lukaku] had a promise that if certain clubs came in for him this summer [he'd leave].
"We are not in concrete talks at the moment, but if the price is right for Everton and the project is right [for Lukaku] he will make another step.
"But we are not there yet."
Lukaku has been valued at around £100million - a price that would break the previous world record fee Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba.
"I didn't hear about [the £100m price-tag]," Raiola added.
"It doesn't surprise me that price with what other players go for.
"But we have a European market and a Premier League market.
"The relationship with Everton is very good.
"We knew if someone comes in for him there is a possibility that he leaves, yes."
Raiola believes clubs will break the spending barrier this season - and could spend as much as £2BILLION on players.
Last season's spending bonanza saw Premier League teams splash out more than £1bn on players.
But Raiola thinks that record will be smashed this season and could even be DOUBLED.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has already spent close to £80m to bring in Bernardo Silva from Monaco and Benfica goalkeeper Ederson.
The transfer window does not open officially until next month.
Raiola said: "TV rights are the fuel of the transfer market.
"If they go up, the prices go up.
"If there are not so many good players [available], they go up again.
"You have two markets - the Premier League and outside the Premier League.
"It depends what [individual clubs] need, which leevel they are.
"You have the players that other clubs want but [the parent club] are not willing to sell.
"Evereyone wants to buy, not everybody is for sale.
"The players for sale [are the ones] no one wants to buy."
Raiola oversaw Pogba's world record move to Manchester United last summer, grabbing a £20m fee from the club for brokering the deal.
The agent believes that the fee is likely to be topped this summer - and that despite the criticism, United got a good deal for the French midfielder.
"Pogba was cheap if you see the market now, they got a good deal," he added.
"The market will be ruled by the people that buy."
Despite his rewards from brokering transfer deals, Raiola says he would reform the market.
"I want to narrow the time of the market, it should finish when the new season starts.
"That is logical. We are in a digital market, we monitor players every day, every week,
"We don't need the whole summer to think about who we want to buy and sell. On July 1 all the players should be with their new clubs."
Raiola also admits that inflated prices in the Premier League is because teams know of their massive spending power.
"In Europe, they want to sell to the Premier League. When [a Premier League club] passes by, it's like Santa Claus coming to your house.
"Twenty-five years ago it was opposite, if an Italian club comes, prices would rise."
He added: "It's difficult to establish the price of any player - it's who buys.
"[In England] A young talent is already costing £5m to £10m even if he hasn't proven a lot.
"Some players already proven - especially strikers or goalscorers - they rise and rise. The very top prices - there are only two types of clubs.
"The top 10, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the Premier League."