Mino Raiola

The son of Italian immigrants to the Netherlands rose to be one of the game's most feared and influential dealmakers.

Raiola, who represented stars like Pogba, Haaland, and Ibrahimovic, transformed the role agents play in modern football with his unique skill set.

They gave him a chance and he delivered -- just as he did a few years later when he set off a bidding war between Juventus, Napoli and Inter to secure Bergkamp. This is a man who elbowed his way into the big time. Some have questioned that, but the fact that so few did leave him -- and that so many coming through the ranks (Haaland is a prime example) specifically chose him -- suggest there's more than a kernel of truth in it. When Pogba moved from Juventus to Manchester United for a fee of around $100m and signed a five-year contract, it later emerged that every party in the deal paid him: the selling club (Juventus), the buying club (United) and Pogba himself. They don't want the truth because deep down, in a place they don't want to talk about at parties, they want him on that call. You say we're the problem and then you come to us, again and again and again." "But who is it that you call in the middle of the night when you want to sign a player or, even more so, when you need to shift a player?

Mino Raiola, one of football's most powerful agents whose high-profile clients included Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland, has died at the age of 54, ...

He began his working life at his family’s pizzeria in the medieval city before beginning his long march to becoming one of the most powerful agents in football. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realised it.” Raiola was born in Nocera Inferiore in southern Italy but in 1968, still only a one-year-old, he was taken with his family to Haarlem in the Netherlands.

Mino Raiola, the influential and often controversial sports agent to some of soccer's biggest players, has died. He was 54. Raiola died after a long illness ...

Raiola compared FIFA to a mafia organization in 2013 and called the governing body's then-president Sepp Blatter a "demented dictator." "Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football. Raiola was a youth team soccer player and administrator before starting his career as a sports agent by assisting in the transfer of Dutch players to foreign clubs. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it." Raiola was born in the southern Italian city of Nocera Inferiore but moved to the Netherlands after less than a year. "In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent that ever was," read a post from "The Raiola Family" on his social media accounts.

Mino Raiola, one of the most high-profile agents in world football, has died following illness.

Raiola remained in football, despite not making it as a professional player, to become an agent, initially working for a company called Sports Promotions. "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." As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it.

Mino Raiola, the influential and often controversial sports agent to some of soccer's biggest players, has died. He was 54. Raiola died after a long illne.

Raiola compared FIFA to a mafia organization in 2013 and called the governing body's then-president Sepp Blatter a "demented dictator." "Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it." Raiola was born in the southern Italian city of Nocera Inferiore but moved to the Netherlands after less than a year. Raiola was the agent of stars such as Erling Haaland and Paul Pogba, as well as Ibrahimovic. "In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent that ever was," read a post from "The Raiola Family" on his social media accounts.

Italy-born, Dutch-raised agent spoke six languages and brokered big deals between European clubs for 30 years.

“Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football. Like elite athletes at their peak, our sports journalists are highly trained in the art of news. “Nobody was a protagonist over three decades the way Raiola was,’’ ESPN FC senior writer Gabriele Marcott wrote. So we're asking you to support us with more than your attention. “In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent there ever was,” it read. Mino’s mission of making football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.”

He was a born trader and hardball negotiator who prided himself on his small stable of players.