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Public statements by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his agent in the media finally infuriated the management.
A few days ago, the striker loaned to the "Milan" team once again publicly started to mock and insult Josep Guardiola in the media. The Swede compared the Catalan club's coach to Indian political figure and ideologist Mahatma Gandhi on a television show and said, "Guardiola thinks he invented football."
As usual, the "Barcelona" coach reacted calmly, but public statements by Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola filled the cup of patience of the Catalan team leaders.
"Johan Cruyff and Josep Guardiola should be locked up in a psychiatric hospital. There they could play cards peacefully," Raiola joked to the Swedish newspaper "Expressen."
"Barcelona" responded to such statements by the agent with an official statement:
"Football club 'Barcelona' believes that the recent statements made by Mino Raiola degrade the dignity and honor of coach Josep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff and are unacceptable.
"Such statements were published in the Swedish newspaper 'Expressen,' and then by many other agencies and media outlets.
"The club is considering taking legally permissible measures, as well as seeking legal action.
"Football club 'Barcelona' immediately suspends all payments due to agent Mino Raiola as stipulated in the contract."
It is worth noting that "Barcelona" had already officially warned Raiola at the end of August for his behavior and audacious statements in the media. At that time, the agent was informed that the Catalan club was only considering the possibility of terminating annual payments to his office.
Although "Barca" loaned Ibrahimovic to the "Milan" team, according to the contract with Raiola, the Catalan club pays a so-called service fee - about 1 million euros per year.
After the controversial statements by Ibrahimovic's agent, these payments have been unilaterally stopped, and "Barcelona" is considering the possibility of legal action.
