Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola has hinted that the Swede could return to the Serie A with Napoli.
According to Goal, Mino Raiola was speaking with Radio CRC and said that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in love with Naples and that his family has similar traits to Neapolitans and that is something that has always attracted the Manchester United striker to Napoli.
Raiola also said that Ibrahimovic was well acquainted with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis which was an added bonus and that there was every possibility that a transfer to the Serie A side could happen in the future.
“As for Ibrahimovic, he’s always been in love with Naples and the passion of the Neapolitans and I’ve always said that openly because he grew up in a family which was similar to the Neapolitans and then with me,” Raiola told Radio CRC, according to Goal. “He knows what the love of the Neapolitans means and that passion has always attracted him.”
“I know that De Laurentiis knows him, and with Zlatan you never know what could happen.”
Ibrahimovic is 35 years of age and most players would be well past their peak by now. However, the Swede has shown that he is in incredible physical condition and has recorded 19 goals and 6 assists in 32 appearances for the Red Devils this season.
This is also not the first time that the Swede has been linked with a move to Napoli. Ibrahimovic was reportedly close to a move to Napoli before joining United and Mino Raiola even admitted last year that the forward had told him he wants to retire at Napoli.
He did admit that the league’s current complexion was one of the reasons that Ibrahimovic opted not to join the Serie A side, but given Zlatan’s emotional connection with the club he could still make a move back to Italy depending on how his career with United plays out.
Jose Mourinho previously hinted that Ibrahimovic would end his career at United and despite signing with the Red Devils on an initial one-year deal, United have the option of a second year, something that the Red Devils are more or less certain to exercise. There have even been reports that he will be offered a new contract which will extend his stay to a total of 3 years.
There is no doubt that he is still a huge influence at Manchester United both on the pitch and off it. If Ibrahimovic were to stay for 3 years, he would be 38 at the end of that contract.
Given his physical condition right now it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him stay in the game at that age but whether or not he will still be able to play at the top level remains to be seen. Napoli have not commented on whether or not they would sign Ibrahimovic but it is doubtful they would should he stay at United for that long.
However if United don’t decide to extend his contract beyond next season there is still a chance Ibrahimovic could return to the Serie A, and there is no doubt that Napoli could use a player of his calibre in their squad.
