The Top Footballers Represented by Super Agent Mino Raiola
By Ross Jackson
It seems weird to think there was a time when Paul Pogba wasn't linked with a move away from Manchester United. By this point it feels like even when he was playing for Juventus he was pushing for a way out of Old Trafford.
Of course, Pogba's various comments, including those of his love for Real Madrid, haven't helped matters regarding the uncertainty of his future, though there's one man at the heart of all this speculation who surely shoulders most of the blame.
Mr super-agent himself, Mino Raiola. The 53-year-old may as well have wooden spoons for hands by this point, such is his tendency to decide to stir the pot at any given chance.
If you're looking on at the Pogba situation and thinking to yourself 'I would never want my club to sign a player signed to his agency', then we've got news for you - you'll be missing out on some of the hottest properties in world football.
Unfortunately, Mr Raiola has some of the biggest stars in the game under his wing, so without further ado, 90min digs into the players he's got his claws into...
1. Paul Pogba
Speak of the devil.
We dare say Mr Raiola spends 90% of his time talking about Pogba, and in fairness it's clear to see why given the astronomic price tag Manchester United were said to have put on the Frenchman's head.
Raiola's recent comments regarding Pogba's future are just the latest in a long line of remarks made that look to have cast doubt on the World Cup winner's future at Old Trafford.
Surely by this point we can all safely say we'll be glad when the longest transfer saga in history - or at least it feels like it - comes to an end.
2. Matthijs de Ligt
Remember how we said Mino Raiola had some of the best talents in world football on his books? Yeah, we weren't lying.
If you ever want your club to court one of the up and coming best centre-backs in Europe, they'll be forced to dance with the devil himself.
The super-agent is rumoured to have pocketed 15% of Matthijs de Ligt's €70m transfer from Ajax to Juventus, though that hasn't stopped him offering the Dutchman to Real Madrid after less than a year in Serie A.
3. Erling Haaland
Next up in the long line of prodigious talents under Mino Raiola is a player who will undoubtedly go on to become the best centre-forward in Europe.
If the fact he's pushing for Pogba to move away from Old Trafford wasn't enough of a reason for United fans to dislike Raiola, their pursuit of Erling Haaland looks to have well and truly hit the buffers thanks to the super-agent - culminating in the advisement for Ole Gunner Solskjaer to concentrate on Pogba and not Haaland.
4. Konstantinos Manolas
Raiola is said to have offered the services of Greek defender Konstantinos Manolas to a whole host of European clubs over the summer of 2019, including Arsenal and Manchester United.
Following much speculation, Manolas eventually settled on a move to Napoli, though we've no doubt it won't be long before he's being offered to every club in Europe again.
5. Marco Verratti
In 2017, amid speculation of a proposed move to Barcelona, Marco Verratti hired Raiola in a bid to push through the switch to La Liga.
No such move materialised and the Italy international has remained in the French capital ever since, though it hasn't been for the want of trying with Raiola regularly offering the services of Verratti to Barça.
6. Marcus Thuram
For all Manchester United fans will no doubt be glad to see the back of Raiola, the one redeeming feature of the super-agent in their eyes is that he's just as much of a t*** to Liverpool as he is to the Red Devils.
Jurgen Klopp is said to have been courting highly-rated French youngster Marcus Thuram earlier this year, though with Raiola still seemingly holding a grudge following the German's treatment of fellow Raiola client Mario Balotelli during his Anfield stint, no such deal ever looked like materialising.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma
And now to the next player who has been utterly screwed over by Mino Raiola.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has regularly been offered to clubs all over Europe since his rise to prominence in Milan, with speculation regarding his future leading to him being vilified by some sections of the Rossoneri faithful.
There's no doubt Donnarumma isn't completely innocent of trying to push for a move away from the club - or at least make it seem as though he is in a bid to secure a better contract offer - though Raiola certainly hasn't helped matters.
8. Alessio Romagnoli
While United appear to have completely burnt their bridges with Raiola, one club who've learnt it's best to keep the super-agent on their side is Chelsea.
The Blues are said to be keen on a move for Milan centre-back Alessio Romagnoli, and have also lodged an interest in Donnarumma.
Whether any such deal materialises for the pair remains to be seen, though - even if either move is completed - we've no doubt Chelsea's seemingly blossoming relationship with Raiola will come crashing down once he's started trying to manufacture a move away from the club no sooner have they joined.
9. Justin Kluivert
Having burst onto the scene with Ajax back in 2017, Justin Kluivert has struggled to make the impact on European football that many projected him to have.
After months of speculation linking him with Premier League side Arsenal over the summer, the Dutchman eventually settled on a loan move to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, though he's yet to nail down a place in the starting XI.
10. Hirving Lozano
Oh look, another player Manchester United have lodged an interest in and then ultimately failed to sign. Something tells us Raiola isn't a massive fan of United?
The Red Devils were rumoured to be chasing Hirving Lozano back in 2019, though the Mexico international eventually sealed a move to Serie A side Napoli instead.
After a difficult start, he's beginning to flourish in Naples and is showing glimpses of his old PSV form.
11. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
While Raiola seems to spend most of his time criticising clubs and hitting out at club hierarchies, he's actually taken the time to criticise some of his own clients in the past.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan bore the brunt of the super-agent's fury earlier this year after the Armenian said he had informed Arsenal of his desire to leave the club, claims Raiola branded as 'fake news'.
Despite the agent's fury, it didn't stop him doing when he does best as he later secured a permanent move to Roma in August.
12. Mario Balotelli
If there's one man who needs a good agent it's this fella.
At just 30 years of age, Mario Balotelli has already amassed a whopping nine permanent clubs, and is yet to stay at a single club for longer than three years.
He currently finds himself in Serie B with Monza having had his contract with Brescia, after he just decided he wasn't going to bother turning up for training anymore. Fair enough.
13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
He may not be at the peak of his powers anymore (though he's not far off, in fairness) but Zlatan Ibrahimovic still represents one of the biggest names on Mino Raiola's roster.
The 39-year-old is himself no stranger to pushing for a move away from a club, so the pair are pretty well suited we'd say.
One of Raiola's more infamous moments as an agent came back in 2005 when he claimed Real Madrid had bid €70m for the Swedish star during his time at Juventus, only to later reveal it was a publicity stunt carried out with the intention of increasing the striker's value.
14. Alphonse Areola
Who would've thought it? Of all the European behemoths previous listed, we end on a player from Craven Cottage.
Admittedly, Alphonse Areola is only on loan at Fulham, having signed for the west Londoners from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
The Frenchman looked to be making inroads as number one at the Parc des Princes, but the arrival of Keylor Navas saw him slip down the pecking order - leading to a loan spell at Real Madrid before his trip to west London.