Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, hinted at problems when he told El Mundo Deportivo: "He signed with FC Barcelona, not FC Guardiola. He signed him to play but then left him on the bench."

With the striker looking increasingly likely to be on the move, a number of clubs are on alert, but Raiola claims his client has a very select short-list of suitors.

"Nothing is settled yet. We will know the situation on September 1," Raiola told Swedish newspaper Expressen. "There are only three clubs that are capable of signing Ibra: AC Milan, Manchester City and Real Madrid. These clubs are the only ones who can afford to sign him, to pay him and attract him."

He added: "Zlatan will be the one who decides whether he leaves and where he will go."

Barca would be highly unlikely to sell to Real Madrid, and Jose Mourinho - who coached the player at Inter - has now said he believes the player would be better off at the San Siro.

"Zlatan is a great player, but he was happier in Italy than he is in Spain," he said. "If he joins Milan, he'll have a great season."

Manchester City are eager to sign up the striker, though, and El Mundo Deportivo reports that Ibrahimovic is still in contact with City boss Roberto Mancini, who also coached the striker at Inter.

Nonetheless, Milan appear to be favourites, and Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani has vowed to remain in Catalonia until he can agree a deal. "If it's necessary, I'll stay here even until August 31," he said.

Guardiola has denied any knowledge of the negotiations, but Barca president Sandro Rosell confirmed talks would take place with Milan over the transfer. "Ibrahimovic? We'll talk about him with Milan tomorrow," he said.

Milan would like to negotiate a long-term loan deal involving Marco Borriello in exchange, but reports in Spain suggest Rosell will only accept a sale worth €40 million and Raiola added: "There'll be no loan, unless it's for four years."

According to Sportmediaset, which in turn quotes Marca, we are very close to signing him. We've offered 25m + Borriello for the definitive buy.

hmm

So the loan talk was all BS! Which makes sense, since from a financial stand point Barca would have been stupid to agree to that kind of deal.

Still think we should inclunde Hunter in the deal if it came down to that, We alread have Pippo who he's very similar to, Bori imo would give us more options

What puzzles me though, is the fact that if we definitely sign him, we'll have to pay his whole wage, and 12m is way too much for our standards. Raiola maide it clear they have no intention of accepting a lower wage.

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What puzzles me though, is the fact that if we definitely sign him, we'll have to pay his whole wage, and 12m is way too much for our standards. Raiola maide it clear they have no intention of accepting a lower wage.

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And on acmilan.com he says no technical counterpart (ie, no milan players going to Barca). So go fig.

but will he really do it? i'm not sure it'd help his political standing given the Italian economy, and his government is hanging by a very thin thread as it is.

but will he really do it? i'm not sure it'd help his political standing given the Italian economy, and his government is hanging by a very thin thread as it is.