Emile Schelvis does not understand why Mino Raiola rented Mohamed Ihattaren at Sampdoria last summer. The adventure in Italy eventually ended in disillusionment for the Juventus midfielder. The former PSV player broke with Raiola as his agent and recently gave an interview with The Telegraph that he was left to his own devices at Sampdoria and also received no salary.
“What a huge blunder by Mino Raiola, how do you get it in your head to store him at Sampdoria?”, Schelvis crops the subject on Monday Rondo by Ziggo Sports at. “Just look at how Sampdoria plays, what they’ve done in recent years, what their roster looked like. There was no place for him at all, not on the right and not as number ten, because that position does not exist (at Sampdoria, ed.). What was he supposed to look for there? Then you end up with a trainer who thinks: that boy needs to be trained first.”
However, Youri Mulder finds it too easy to put the blame on Raiola. “Everything I read and whatever you say now, it’s always others’ fault,” says the analyst. “It is the fault of Mino Raiola, of PSV, Juventus and Sampdoria. Sampdoria is just a very good middle class. I also have the feeling that such a player comes there and thinks: I’m the best here, I’m going to show a bit of the same behavior here as I showed PSV. Everyone has worked with him at PSV, no one has succeeded, they have put so much energy into it. Probably also at Sampdoria.”
Schelvis maintains his position that Ihattaren should have delved more into Sampdoria. “What are you going to play football for, what are you going to play for? He doesn’t know what Sampdoria means, he sails on the compass of Mino Raiola, the best players’ agent in the world,” Schelvis sounds cynically. Mulder is of the opinion, however, that Ihattaren himself should also be held responsible for his choices.
“Ihataren did not want to stay with PSV anymore and had to leave,” Mulder says. “Raiola will bring him to Juventus. He probably also earned a lot from that, so so does the player, eh. In signing fees, salaries, etc., so Raiola did it all? You just have to make sure you get to play and you can also say no. At Sampdoria they are completely done with Ihattaren, and so is the selection. They think: glad he’s gone. And that is not without reason probably. As FC Utrecht or a next club you will get something in your selection. Clubs are also starting to think: should we do that?” Utrecht wants to rent Ihattaren in principle, technical director Jordy Zuidam admitted to ESPN. Ihattaren must first settle his dispute with Juventus about his sudden departure from Sampdoria.