In an interview with Tuttosport, player agent Enzo Raiola provided a wide-ranging discussion on various transfer market topics. Here are his key statements.
Speaking about Giacomo Bonaventura, Raiola said, “Al Shabab wanted him strongly. In January, when he was already being sought by other clubs, he met the club’s sporting director, Domenico Teti, on the occasion of the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh. He immediately liked the setup there. Bonaventura needed to play for a club that believed in him 100%. Director Teti, who I consider another Italian excellence abroad, did everything to bring him there. He was ‘sequestered’ in Tenerife, where the team was training pre-season, until his contract was approved by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport. The club is very organised, the team is doing well. They don’t waste money but make targeted investments.”
Regarding Mario Balotelli, Raiola commented, “He wants to stay in Italy. He has received many offers from outside Europe but hopes to stay close to home. There have been discussions with some clubs, but we are waiting. If nothing materialises, we will revisit these talks in the coming months. As for Palermo, when we talk about the ‘rosanero’, it’s like talking about a top-tier club, not a B division one. It’s not a matter of the league; the right project is required for Mario.”
On Ismaël Bennacer’s situation, Raiola remarked, “The conversation is simple. There has been some chatter with a few clubs, but he has never questioned his desire to stay at Milan. Let me remind you that the Saudi market is not open every day and not everyone can go to Saudi Arabia. The Rossoneri also wanted him to stay, and choosing another European club is tough. It’s good living in Milan, the club is important, and leaving Milan is not easy.”
Discussing Andrea Pinamonti, Raiola revealed, “We considered many requests for him from abroad. When Genoa came in, he was thrilled. He told me, ‘Finally, I’ll have a coach who was a former striker; I’ll learn a lot from him.’ And so it will be. We hope he can improve his personal numbers and those of Genoa. Now there’s also the derby coming up…”
Raiola also touched on the moves of Lorenzo Silvestri and Venuti to Sampdoria, stating, “I brought them to Sampdoria; they are eager to perform well at a prestigious club and try to get it back to where it belongs: Serie A.”
Touching on Lazio’s current form with players Alessio Romagnoli, Patric, and Luca Pellegrini, Raiola explained, “With Sarri, Tudor, and now Baroni, there has been some confusion because, you know, changing three managers in a few months isn’t simple. However, I hear that the current technical staff is exemplary professionals. I have full confidence in these guys; they will do well and aim for Champions League qualification.”
On young talent Cocchi at Inter, Raiola said, “With Inter, we always have some future discussions. The Nerazzurri see Cocchi as a young player with definite prospects, which is why they extended his contract by another year, until 2027. We hope he can get closer to the first team this year, and then we will see. I believe he could already play among professionals.”
Raiola also highlighted Seydou Fini’s journey, noting, “From Genoa, he went to Belgium to play, and now he is in the Netherlands, at Excelsior Rotterdam, where he is doing very well. I am fortunate to have these contacts abroad with clubs that allow young talents to demonstrate their abilities without focusing on their age.”
Finally, discussing Kostas Manolas, Raiola said, “He has had some offers from outside Europe, but nothing concrete with Roma. He preferred to wait, and we are waiting for the right call.”
These remarks reflect Enzo Raiola’s wide influence and insights within the transfer market, shedding light on the future directions for several notable players.