Watch: Raiola aims to sign top Malta female player

International football super-agent Mino Raiola confirmed his interest in a Maltese female player on Wednesday while speaking during a press conference about ThreeSports – a representation company owned by Raiola which is based in Qormi.

Raiola would not specify who the player is, however, he lauded the impact she is making.

“She’s one of the best so we will see if we can sign her,” Raiola, who represents high-profile international players like Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, told the press conference.

This would be part of a larger plan with which the Italian said Malta would surely have a top player with a top club in the world in the future.

“In the future, Why not?” Raiola explained when asked about the possibility of more local players sparking his interest.

“I’ve always been a pioneer of wherever place (players) can come from. My territory is the world – it’s not a country. For sure, Malta will have a top player in the top clubs and hopefully it’s mine.”

Raiola, in Malta to discuss the future of ThreeSports, said he has already met with Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sports and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima to discuss the future of Maltese sports.

Malta potential

“I think there is potential because there is a level that can only improve and there is the right attitude and (Malta) understand that football can be a trigger for the rest of society and it’s a very interesting thing,” Raiola said.

“This is one of the things that as a company we are looking at. I met the minister of sport, had a very interesting meeting, and it was the basis to do something in the future. I think that football around the world needs to be developed – in Malta for sure. Obviously because I have a company in Malta, I’m interested in Malta and I’d love to be part of it.”

The Italian also hopes to meet with the Malta Football Association (MFA) and the local clubs. He also praised the infrastructure of the sport in Malta.

“I hope so, we have to see how the future brings us to them – I’m available for (discussion) and as a company we want to bring our know-how and to try to work together in a way that is helpful for Malta and football. We can bring our energy and our network, and we want to put that on the table,” Raiola explained to the Times of Malta.

“What I saw was already more than I expected but that’s more my ignorance. Every infrastructure can be better, and the better the infrastructure the better it is for the players.”

Asked about the choice being Malta, Raiola referred to the country as an ‘interesting place’ both in terms of sport, as well as legislation and emphasised that because it is a European country he “didn’t know a more transparent way” to operate.

This comes after recent criticism from the media about the same company, which had even got him suspended for three months by the Italian FA in 2019.

“A lot of people talk without knowing what they are saying. So, it proves normally that they are ignorant,” Raiola said.

“The rest, my lawyers in Malta will take care of – it’s not something I am busy with. I think they totally missed the boat, but they need to create scandal. It is obvious that an action has to be taken because I cannot allow ignorance about me. I expect high quality journalism and they
didn’t deliver. I will always fight for my players”

Sources have told the Times of Malta that the company is also aiming to branch out into other sports besides football at a later stage.