A pizzaiolo in his early days, an overpowered agent on his deathbed, the trajectory of Mino Raiola commands respect and his disappearance – following a lung disease – has logically plunged the actors of the football world into immense sadness. From PSG to Real Madrid via AC Milan, the reactions continued to multiply on Saturday at the start of the afternoon. A general tribute in which many football stars also took part. And for good reason, eminent character of this ecosystem, Mino Raiola will forever leave an indelible mark in the memories.
An empire to preserve!
At the head of a representation agency managing the interests of many stars (Gianluigi Donnarumma, Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to name a few), the Italian-Dutch leaves a legacy of dizzying value. . To illustrate Raiola’s place in this environment, Forbes recently estimated his personal fortune at $84.7 million. The representative was among the five most powerful sports agents in the world, negotiating, during his career, more than 847.7 million dollars in contracts! So what future for the Raiola empire? Will the players continue with the company or, on the contrary, sail towards new horizons?
According to people close to Mino Raiola contacted by brand, the family should indeed continue to mediate in the signing of the players for whom they are responsible. A structure composed of few people but granting maximum confidence, symbol of the working method desired by the now regretted agent. In the first place, Enzo Raiola, cousin of Mino and agent registered with FIFA, should logically take over operations. He will, in this capacity, be accompanied by José Fortes, a Spanish emigrant who lives in Amsterdam and who was a key member of the organization chart with regard to recruitment. Not to mention Rafaela Pimienta, Raiola’s lawyer for 20 years, Enrica Tarchi, her press secretary, and Mario, her son.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ready to take up the torch?
A small committee now responsible for perpetuating the aura of Mino Raiola while managing, as well as possible, the many hot issues that are already presenting themselves to them during the next summer transfer window. Whether it’s Paul Pogba (29), at the end of his contract with Manchester United, Erling Haaland, courted by the biggest names in Europe, starting with Real Madrid, Ryan Gravenberch, a 19-year-old nugget from Ajax in Bayern Munich target Zlatan Ibrahimovic (40) who will soon have to make a choice about his future at AC Milan or a dozen other players, the Sportman agency is preparing to live a summer to say the least thrilling. And if the death of Mino Raiola should, for the time being, not have an immediate impact on the future of all these names previously mentioned, it is on the very management of the agency that changes could soon take place.
According to our information, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, devastated by the disappearance of Raiola, would thus consider helping the Sportman agency in the coming weeks. Moreover, the Rossoneri striker would not be against the idea of establishing himself, in the medium term, as the leader of this powerful empire left by the native of Nocera Inferiore. Deeply touched by this sad news, the Swede, who had forged very strong ties with Raiola and who has been said to have been silent for several days in the Milan locker room, would have been, according to the Guardian, among the few allowed to enter the hospital to say goodbye to Raiola with his family. Determined to honor his memory, Ibrahimovic could thus take a first step in this quest for retraining after his football career and there is no doubt that his charisma and his aura could fully weigh in this new role.
—Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) April 30, 2022