Mourinho fires parting shot at Ibrahimovic

July 25, 2009

Jose Mourinho has fired a parting shot at Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, claiming he was never loved by the Inter Milan fans.

Ibrahimovic is due to wrap up a switch to Barcelona when he agrees personal terms with the Spaniards, with Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o heading in the opposite direction.

But Mourinho clearly feels let down by the big Swede and told Saturday’s Gazzetta dello Sport that the club’s fans would have more affection for Eto’o.

“I thought he would stay because only Real Madrid — and they weren’t interested in him — could spend such crazy money, but then Barcelona did too,” said Mourinho of the deal which will see the Italians also net Belarus winger Alexander Hleb on loan and 50 million euros.

“If, as his agent said, this deal has been in the pipeline for a year, then there’s something strange going on.

“If it was a recent thing, that’s ok. He gave everything he could for me and for Inter, always.

“Even though he was never loved by the fans, who aren’t crying over his sale and are ready to love Eto’o.

“Inter had two possibilities, tell Ibrahimovic: ‘we’re not selling you’, or take Eto’o, plus Hleb on loan for a year for free, plus 50 million euros.

“To me that seems like an incredible deal, a deal worth 100 million euros, the deal of the summer.

“Kaka 70, Cristiano Ronaldo 96. For me this is worth 100 million because Eto’o is worth not even one euro less than Ibra.”

Mourinho also explained why the deal for Chelsea pair Ricardo Carvalho and Deco fell through.

“We were supposed to exchange Carvalho for one of our defenders and to have Deco for free, then Chelsea asked for 15 plus five million euros.

“From zero to 20 million, that’s a bit too much and I’m not blaming my club.”

Instead of Carvalho, Inter signed Brazil centre-back Lucio from Bayern Munich.

“He wasn’t second choice but a great surprise,” admitted Mourinho. “He doesn’t have great feet but he defends well, he’s quick and he’s knows how to push the team up the pitch. He doesn’t talk much but he knows how to get himself heard.”

ROME (AFP)

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