Super Agent Mino Raiola Dies Aged 54

Mino Raiola, one of the most influential agents in football who represented the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland, has died aged 54.

Mino Raiola’s family announced the death of the impresario

A statement shared by Raiola’s family on his personal Twitter account read: “In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent that ever was.

“Mino fought until the end with the same strength he put on negotiation tables to defend our players. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it.

“Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football. His presence will forever be missed. Mino’s mission of making football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.

“We thank everybody for the huge amount of support received during these difficult times and ask for respect to the privacy of family and friends in this moment of grief.”

Note that a rumour about his death trended over the past week which was later denied by his team.

What Giovanni Becali said about Mino Raiola’s condition, the very day he died

A few hours before the famous impresario passed away, Giovanni Becali declared that only a miracle could have saved him. 

“We were a little mistaken for his death. If God can do a miracle, that means a miracle, if he is saved. Since January, he has been brought to the hospital, opened, closed again, with no chance. to escape.

This is before the end of the market period, on January 31st. He also took her in February, March, and April. I don’t know how long it will take. Only by a miracle.

I don’t know if he cared too much about his body, he’s shorter than me, he’s 1.68-1.69. But money never saves you, health is something of the value,” Giovanni Becali told Digi Sport Matinal.

Who was Mino Raiola 

Raiola’s story began in the family restaurant. Born in southern Italy, near Salerno, the impresario moved to the Netherlands with his parents when he was one year old.

After growing up, he worked as a waiter in the family restaurant, Italian-style and called Napoli, and was the one who kept in touch with customers, because he had learned Dutch better than his father. His talent for foreign languages ​​helped him later in the negotiations with the European clubs.

Mino Raiola spoke seven languages, and in his youth, he studied law. He also played football for HFC Haarlem, and then found a job at a local sports agency (Sports Promotions), which had several Dutch players under contract.

He became a millionaire at the age of 19 when he bought a local McDonald’s restaurant and then sold it to a real estate developer. Entrepreneurial, he always had revolutionary business ideas. For example, when a customer of the family restaurant complained about problems with his Italian suppliers, Raiola solved things. He founded a company called Intermezzo, which helped Dutch companies do business in Italy.

His first major transfer was from Pavel Nedved, from Sparta Prague to Lazio, in the summer of 1996. Mino Raiola had contracts with 79 footballers from all over the world, and the most famous names on his list were Ibrahimovic, Pogba, Haaland. , By Ligt and Donnarumma.

Other high-profile players, such as Justin Kluivert, Moise Kean, Dumfries, Ihattaren or Pinamonti, also had contracts with the FIFA agent. In recent years, the Italian-Dutchman has made transfers worth about 1 billion euros.

This article was originally published on Nigeria News