Zlatan will stay at Barca - Agent

Published Jul. 20, 2010 4:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

The agent of Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has again stated his client will remain at the Nou Camp next season.

Ibrahimovic joined Barca from Inter Milan last summer in a 66million euro deal that saw the Catalan giants give the Italian club 46million euros plus striker Samuel Eto'o in exchange for the 28-year-old.

The Sweden striker has never really lived up to that fee and was hugely criticised in his first season at the Nou Camp.

Ibrahimovic was frequently left on the bench towards the end of the campaign and looks set to be marginalised further following Barca's signing of Spain striker David Villa from Valencia.

In a press conference on Monday, Barca coach Pep Guardiola left the door open for Ibrahimovic to depart by saying the decision on whether his stays or leaves was down to the player and his agent.

But the latter says Ibrahimovic will be staying at Barcelona.

"He has a contract with Barca and he wants to show his value 100%," Mino Raiola told Italian website calcionews24.com.

"He is focused and he wants to start the season in style with Barcelona."

After making his name at Ajax, Ibrahimovic enjoyed successful spells at Juventus and Inter, but Raiola says reports of a return to Italy are off the mark.

"All of the new stories talking of a return to Italy are totally without foundation," he said.