One of the world’s most prominent football agents, Mino Raiola, has passed away after a short battle with illness.
The 54-year-old represented some of the most influential players in the world of football – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland among others – and helped revolutionise the way football transfers were negotiated.
Raiola was hospitalised in January and underwent surgery, although the procedure and nature of his illness was not made public, and his passing has now been confirmed by Italian media – although a statement has yet to be made by his family or agency.
Born in the south of Italy in 1967, Raiola grew up in the Netherlands after his parents moved to Haarlem a year later. He became involved as a football agent during his early 20s, working for Sports Promotions, and was involved in deals transferring several high-profile Dutch players to Serie A – namely taking Wim Jonk and Dennis Bergkamp to Inter in 1993.
He went solo a couple of years later and soon established himself as one of football’s leading agents – representing the likes of Pavel Nedved, whom he oversaw moving to Juventus from Lazio in a deal worth €41m.
Raiola’s modern day clients included Zlatan Ibrahmovic – who he helped move on a number of times in transfers worth over €130m in cumulative fees – Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland, and he also represented Italian trio Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Verratti and Mario Balotelli.
