Mino Raiola, one of the most influential football agents, representing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland, has died at the age of 54.
A statement shared by Rayola’s family on his Twitter account reads: “In endless grief, we share the death of the most caring and amazing football agent he has ever been.
“Mino fought to the end with the same force he put on the negotiating tables to protect our players. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it.
“Mino has touched so many lives through his work and written a new chapter in the history of modern football. His presence will be gone forever. Mino’s mission to make football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.
“We thank everyone for the tremendous support they received during these difficult times and ask for respect for the privacy of family and friends in this time of grief.”
A tweet appeared in Rayola’s account in January, saying he had undergone “ordinary” medical examinations and did not need “urgent intervention.”
Confirmation from Rayola’s family came two days after false reports of his death spread. Alberto Zangrilo, head of the anesthesia and intensive care unit at San Rafaele Hospital in Milan, where Raiola is being treated, said: “
Rayola became famous in the Netherlands and Italy in the 1990s and was involved in the deals in which Denis Bergkamp and Pavel Nedved moved to Serie A.
Most recently, Rayola helped transfer Paul Pogba’s then-world record to Manchester United from Juventus, as well as the transfer of Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund.
Image: Erling Haaland was one of Rayola’s most famous clients
Raising Rayola from a pizzeria worker to a super-agent
Maybe Roderick Turpin’s name means little to you. He was a Dutch footballer who made several appearances for Ajax in the 1990s before moving to De Graafschap and moving away from playing professionally until his mid-twenties.
No matter. This one transfer had already prepared him for life.
Turpin revealed this in his own account of the deal. In an outstanding act on the edge, his agent had left negotiations with De Graafschap – then, as now, an inconspicuous Dutch team. He asked to match Turpin’s salary at Ajax.
Surprisingly, the club agreed, even throwing bonuses. Impressive work, even before you realize that the figure his agent claims to be winning at Ajax is pure fantasy.
This agent was Mino Raiola.
Mino Raiola’s remarkable rise from pizzeria worker to superagent – including insight from those who witnessed his rise – was reviewed by Sky Sports’ Adam Bate last November.
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