Mino Raiola makes outrageous claim about Ibrahimovic

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 24: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United shows appreciation to the fans after the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 24: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United shows appreciation to the fans after the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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The agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mino Raiola, has claimed that he thinks the Swedish superstar has another 5-6 years at the top of his game in Europe.

Mino Raiola is one of the superstar agents of Europe’s top players.  He like Jorge Mendes make claims that are as much the truth as they are tactical moves to represent their players and make more money.

Raiola and Ibrahimovic have enjoyed an incredibly close and fruitful relationship until this point.  With the two of them managing to earn Zlatan Ibrahimovic a reported net worth of between 160 and 200 million dollars.  So when Raiola claims that Zlatan despite being 36 years old and coming off the back of his biggest ever injury he will play another 5-6 years it must be taken with a grain of salt.

Now that said Ibrahimovic is a medical marvel.  He’s reportedly come back from his injury in record time and has always taken care of himself. He is part of the new age of footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo who spend an unbelievable amount of time in the gym and focusing on their self-preservation.

That does mean that the rules have changed then.  Simply put where players used to be nearing the end of their careers at 31-32 that is not the same as it used to be.  Modern sporting and medical science have extended careers in ways that were not possible before.

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Ibrahimovic though sporting one of the most outspoken and hysterical attitudes in history has never been much of a partier and has been in a long and dedicated marriage for most of his career.  He is in many ways the perfect professional.

So one does have to think that if someone was going to pull off playing as long as Raiola claims Ibrahimovic is going to then it would be the Swedish superstar who did it.  He had one of the best years of his career at age 36 and makes all the right moves to extend his career every day.

The Swede is one of the best players in the world not only because of his other worldly talent but because of what he does off the pitch in preparation as well.

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If someone was going to play until they were 41-42 at the top-level then there’s a good chance it would be Ibrahimovic who did it.