Mario Balotelli is among top four strikers in the world and Paul Pogba is struggling at Manchester United, says Mino Raiola
Agent of both players predicts big 2017 for Liverpool flop and concedes world's most expensive player has not yet shone
MARIO BALOTELLI is among the world’s top four strikers and Paul Pogba is struggling at Manchester United, says Mino Raiola.
The players’ agent predicts a big 2017 in store for the Liverpool flop now in red hot form with Nice.
Balotelli, 26, has bagged six goals in five appearances for the Ligue 1 leaders.
And after reportedly being spoken to just once by Kop boss Jurgen Klopp, Raiola now says the decision to leave Anfield for France is paying dividends.
He told Corriere Dello Sport: “He has started very well in France, now he needs to continue like that. We are both more and more satisfied to have chosen Nice.
“2017 could be the year of Balotelli. When he is at 100 per cent, he is among the best four forwards in the world. Three of them are mine [Balotelli, Ibrahimovic and Lukaku].”
Meanwhile, Raiola, who made around £20million from Pogba‘s world-record move to Old Trafford, admitted his star man is struggling under Jose Mourinho.
The France star has scored just once in his first eight games and failed to truly flourish with Wayne Rooney’s role hampering his own to a degree.
But Raiola is adamant there is nothing seriously wrong with his game and that he will come good sooner rather than later.
He said: “It is only a question of time before he regains form. It is normal that it takes a bit of time to adjust to an environment that is so different to Turin.
“He will continue to move forward, soon they will notice it in England.”