‘I don’t care about record-breaking transfers’ - Paul Pogba’s agent

Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has insisted he is not concerned with reports that the France midfielder could join Manchester United for a world record transfer fee and refused to confirm if Pogba has asked to leave Juventus.

Raiola, who also represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Everton's Romelu Lukaku, dismissed reports on Thursday that Pogba is close to returning to Old Trafford. "There is no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla bla bla," the Dutchman wrote on Twitter.

In an interview with Friday’s Corriere dello Sport, Raiola, who could be due up to £18.4m should the deal go through, reiterated that standpoint and insisted he only wants “what’s best” for his client.

“I don’t care about record-breaking transfers,” he said.

“The newspapers say that Pogba could break the record but I have already broken records with Ibrahimovic and (Pavel) Nedved. I want what’s best for my players and so that also includes Pogba.

“Has Pogba asked to leave Juventus? I won’t answer anyone and I don’t talk about my business. Certain things I only discuss with my clients and they know how things really stand.”

José Mourinho insisted on Thursday he has three different choices for his final major transfer, of which Pogba is just one. However, it is understood that United remain confident of completing the deal having submitted an offer of £92m on Wednesday despite reports in Spain on Friday which suggested Real Madrid could be preparing an offer.

Raiola also represents Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, who has been told to start looking for another club by manager Jürgen Klopp.

“It’s never too late in life,” he said of the Italy international.

“If you think that Mario makes me despair you are mistaken because his life has improved a lot and now he only needs to find the right moment. Sure, he needs a bit of luck as well which he hasn’t had this past season but I can assure you that he is a great person, a lad with a big heart. He’s paying for both his issues and not his issues.

“We’ll see what happens. I won’t shut the door on any solution. Not for Mario or any of my players. I listen to what is proposed to me and then I decide together with my players.”

Guardian services