Super-agent Raiola: 'Guardiola is a cowardly dog'
Famed super-agent Mino Raiola didn't pull any punches while assessing his client Zlatan Ibrahimovic's time under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, calling the current Manchester City boss a "cowardly dog."
"As a manager Guardiola is great, but as a human, he's a zero!" Raiola told Dutch magazine Quote, as translated by ESPN. "He said we had to talk to him if we had any complaints, but then he stopped playing Zlatan and ignored him. He didn't even greet him."
Ibrahimovic, who is just one of several high-profile players under Raiola's watch, made 29 league appearances in his single season with the Catalan giant before being shipped on loan to AC Milan for the 2010-11 campaign. Reports that the towering Swede and Guardiola had become a divergent pairing were widespread before the move to the San Siro.
"Guardiola is like a classic priest: Do what I say, don't do what I do. I advised Zlatan to go to work in a Ferrari and to park it in his spot," Raiola continued.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Raiola's issues with the soon-to-be Premier League-winning gaffer aren't limited to the LA Galaxy newcomer. Guardiola's treatment of now-retired full-back and Ibrahimovic friend Maxwell also drew the agent's ire.
"Guardiola is a cowardly dog," Raiola said. "He pulled the same trick on Maxwell, who is a great guy. I went to London for the Champions League final and saw in the stadium that he wasn't on the list. So that f---ing Guardiola wanted to let (Eric) Abidal make his re-entry (after recovering from liver cancer). That was fine of course, and you can see why, but be honest about it.
"I was livid, almost went for him (Guardiola) in the catacombs, but luckily Adriano Galliani, AC Milan's president, was able to stop me."
Sans clients in Guardiola's current City squad, Raiola's remarks should ensure that the two never work together. When asked if Guardiola is likely to lead his charges to Champions League glory, Raiola said, "Yes, but I don't want him to. Also because none of my players are with him."