Tag: Mino Raiola

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Raiola opens door for Barcelona but striker could stay at Dortmund

Erling Haaland could still stay at Borussia Dortmund but “can wait for anybody” amid demand from Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona, according to the player’s agent Mino Raiola.

Haaland signed for Dortmund from Salzburg after the Bundesliga side met his €20million release clause in December 2019 and has dominated the German top flight since his arrival.

The Norway international became the quickest player to 50 goals in the Bundesliga when he reached the milestone in his 50th appearance, and the youngest to do so at just 21, while only Robert Lewandowski (58) has scored more goals than Haaland (43) across all competitions in Europe’s top-five leagues in 2021.

Haaland has also scored 30 Bundesliga goals this calendar year – a new Dortmund record, surpassing Lothar Emmerich (29 goals in 1966) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (29 goals in 2015).

The 21-year-old is reported to have a €75million buy-out clause that will kick in at the end of the season, putting Europe’s elite on high alert.

Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke expressed his belief on Sunday that Haaland should stay and Raiola has refused to rule that possibility out, though he did speculate on a potential move to Barcelona, whose financial issues may well mean a move has to be delayed.

“Could Haaland wait for Barcelona? He can wait for anybody,” Raiola said to NOS. “We don’t have a pre-agreement with any club.

“We’ll look for the best option for him and I can’t rule out another year at Dortmund. Theoretically, that’s still possible.”

Barca are undergoing a difficult period under new head coach Xavi. They sit seventh in LaLiga and are already out of the Champions League, after the departure of Blaugrana legend Lionel Messi following the club’s well-publicised financial difficulties.

Raiola, however, believes Barca will soon be back.

“Barcelona will always be one of the world’s biggest clubs,” Raiola added. “Even despite their current situation.

“In a year or two they’ll be back. They have the power to find great economic agreements. They’ll only need a year or two to get back.”

Haaland has 13 goals in 11 Bundesliga appearances this term, while his tally increases to 19 across all competitions.

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Haaland not guaranteed to leave Dortmund in 2022

Mino Raiola has moved to clarify comments he made this week regarding Erling Haaland’s future, insisting it is not a foregone conclusion that the striker will leave Borussia Dortmund next year. 

Haaland, who has scored 51 Bundesliga goals in 52 appearances since making his Dortmund bow last year, is already one of the world’s leading goalscorers.

Among players in Europe’s top five leagues, only Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski (100) has scored more goals than Haaland (74) across all competitions since January 18, 2020, when he first played for BVB.

The 21-year-old is rumoured to be a target for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and the two Manchester clubs, with reports suggesting he has a €75million buy-out clause that will kick in at the end of the season.

Dortmund’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has described those claims as “rumour” and would not confirm the clause.

In an interview with Sport1 published on Thursday, Raiola claimed: “We have been thinking about his future for two years. We have clear ideas about where he should go and, of course, we look at what the market will offer. 

“With a player like him, we can influence the market, we will not be influenced.

“I changed the transfer market and today we agents have created a new game alongside football: the transfer market. Today two days a week we talk about football, in the other five about the transfer market.”

A second part of the interview, published on Friday, had Raiola naming four clubs – Bayern, Madrid, Barca and Manchester City – as the only teams that could afford to buy the Norway international.

However, Raiola on Saturday issued a statement aiming to clear up his quotes.

“I want to clarify the following about the Sport1 interview,” a post on his official Twitter account read.

“The four clubs I mentioned about Haaland’s future were just an example to say that, when he leaves, he will go to one of the top 15 European clubs.”

Raiola also stressed Haaland may well stay at Dortmund for another season.

“Now Erling’s focus is solely on football, there are no negotiations with any club,” Raiola’s statement continued.

“And I reaffirm what I said – it’s not a sure thing he will leave this summer [2022 off-season], maybe it will be the one after that.”

Haaland, who has only recently returned from injury, could not help Dortmund to victory against Bochum on Saturday, with Julian Brandt rescuing a 1-1 draw for Marco Rose’s team, who are six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern.

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POGBA’S TIME AT UNITED IS OVER – RAIOLA

Paul Pogba’s career at Manchester United “is over,” according to his agent Mino Raiola.

United have triggered a one-year extension in Pogba contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2022 but in an interview with Tuttosport, Raiola has revealed the midfielder has no intention to committing his future to the club and wants to leave in January.

“It’s over between Manchester United and Pogba,” said Raiola in the interview released on Monday.

“No point beating around the bush, it’s better to speak clearly, look forward and not waste time looking for people to blame: Paul is unhappy at Manchester United.

“He is unable to express himself as is expected from him. He needs a change of club; a change of scenery.

“He has a contract which runs out in a year and a half — in the summer of 2022 — but I believe the best solution for everyone is that he leaves in the next transfer window.

“Otherwise, United know well the risk of losing him for nothing, given at the moment the player has no intention of extending his contract. If someone doesn’t understand this, they understand little or nothing about football.

“In any case, they can all blame me if next summer Paul leaves.”

United are likely to be furious with the timing of Raiola’s comments, coming on the eve of their make-or-break Champions League clash with RB Leipzig. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side need at least a draw in Germany to guarantee qualification from Group H but defeat could see them demoted to the Europa League.

Real Madrid and Juventus have both shown interest in Pogba in the past but there are doubts at United about whether either could afford a substantial fee or the 27-year-old’s wages following the impact of coronavirus on football finances across Europe.

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LINGARD PATH WAYS WITH AGENT RAIOLA.

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has parted company with agent Mino Raiola, sources have revealed.

Lingard has been working with Raiola, who also represents United teammate Paul Pogba, since the start of the year but will now be managed entirely by family members and other close associates.

The decision was mutual and Raiola remains on good terms with Lingard and his team.

Lingard hasn’t featured for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team since the 3-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup in September

He has missed the last seven games because of a hip injury but there is hope he could return to full fitness soon.

The 27-year-old, who was the subject of interest from both Tottenham and Porto during the summer transfer window, has entered the final year of the four-year contract he signed in April 2017.

United hold an option to extend the deal by an additional 12 months until the summer of 2022 which is yet to be triggered according to sources.

The club are keen to keep hold of Lingard, who has made more than 200 senior appearances after coming through the academy, and do not want to lose the England international for free.

Lingard is open to staying at Old Trafford but is also eager to play more regular football after falling down the pecking order under Solskjaer.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford will delay joining up with the England squad to give United’s medical staff more time to assess the shoulder injury he picked up during the 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

England will play three games during the international break against Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Iceland.

United are back in action against West Brom at Old Trafford on Nov. 21.