Mino Raiola was an Italian-Dutch soccer agent, born in 1967, who passed away in 2022. He is widely considered one of the most influential figures in modern soccer. He represented stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, and significantly transformed the transfer market through his strategic and media-driven approach.
Last updated: 04/30/2026
Mino Raiola, whose real name was Carmine Raiola, was very likely the most famous sports agent in the history of soccer. He introduced a new vision of the player-agent profession and transformed every transfer into a strategic negotiation.
Mino Raiola established himself as a public figure in the soccer world. He did not hesitate to speak in the media, firmly defend his players, and criticize clubs or governing bodies when he deemed it necessary.
Let’s now explore Mino Raiola’s career in soccer, the players he represented throughout his career, and the impact he had on the transfer market.
Mino Raiola was born on November 4, 1967, in Italy. During his childhood, he emigrated with his family to Haarlem in the Netherlands. It was in this environment that he developed a direct, business-oriented personality that would define his entire career as a player agent.
He began playing soccer in the youth teams of HFC Haarlem before quickly stepping away to take on administrative roles within the club. His talent for negotiation then led him to represent Dutch players internationally, long before the agent profession was formally regulated.
Fluent in several languages (Italian, Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese), Mino Raiola quickly stood out for his unconventional profile in the soccer world.
He embodied a new generation of agents, more visible, more influential, and fully committed to defending the interests of their players.
In March 2022, a serious lung disease (fibrosis) affecting Mino Raiola was publicly announced. The Italian agent battled the illness for several weeks before passing away on April 30, 2022, at the age of 54.
His death sparked strong emotion across the global soccer community. Many of the players he represented, among the biggest stars in soccer, paid tribute to him, describing him as far more than just an agent.
“This Scudetto is for Mino Raiola. It’s the first title I win without Mino by my side.” – Zlatan Ibrahimović, May 2022
Mino Raiola’s path is unconventional. He did not come from a traditional sports background, but from an Italian family settled in the Netherlands where his parents ran a pizzeria.
He quickly developed a strong business sense. At the age of 20, he co-founded the company “Intermezzo” with Massimo Videmonti, specializing in connecting Dutch players with foreign clubs.
In 1993, Raiola made a name for himself with the transfer of Dennis Bergkamp from Ajax Amsterdam to Inter Milan. This deal marked a turning point in the Italian agent’s career and opened the doors to Europe’s top clubs.
Following this first success in the transfer market, Mino Raiola abandoned his other activities and founded Maguire Tax & Legal in the early 2000s. This agency opened offices in Monaco, the Netherlands, Brazil, and the Czech Republic, where scouts, legal experts, and tax advisors were recruited. At that point, the Italian agent transformed sports representation into a full-scale, multi-service business.
| Period | Key event | Impact on Mino Raiola’s career |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Dennis Bergkamp (from Ajax to Inter Milan) | First major deal, breakthrough on the European stage |
| Late 1990s | Pavel Nedvěd (from Lazio to Juventus) | Confirmation of his influence in the Italian market |
| 2001–2012 | Managed Zlatan Ibrahimović, Maxwell, Balotelli | Rise to prominence with elite and high-profile players |
| 2012 | Zlatan Ibrahimović (from AC Milan to PSG) | Participation in a defining transfer for PSG |
| 2012 | Paul Pogba (from Manchester United to Juventus, free transfer) | Major strategic move, symbol of his long-term vision |
| 2016 | Paul Pogba (from Juventus to Manchester United, $108M) | World record transfer, international recognition |
| 2018–2022 | De Ligt, Haaland, Donnarumma, Lukaku | Management of the new generation of European stars |
Mino Raiola did not have a large client portfolio. His strategy focused on a limited number of star players in order to maximize his influence on each deal.
Zlatan Ibrahimović is one of the players most closely associated with Mino Raiola. The Italian agent guided him through his many transfers across Europe (Ajax, Juventus, Inter, FC Barcelona, PSG, Milan), each time maximizing his sporting and contractual value.
The Paul Pogba case symbolizes Mino Raiola’s influence on the transfer market. After leaving on a free transfer to Juventus in 2012, Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 for a record fee of over $108M.
Erling Haaland quickly became one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Raiola structured his progression with strategic club choices (Salzburg, then Dortmund), while negotiating favorable long-term clauses.
The transfer of Dennis Bergkamp from Ajax Amsterdam to Inter Milan in 1993 marked Mino Raiola’s first major move. This deal allowed him to build a name in the industry and demonstrate his ability to handle international transfers.
The transfer of the Czech midfielder from Lazio to Juventus in the late 1990s strengthened Raiola’s credibility with major clubs. Pavel Nedvěd, a future Ballon d’Or winner, became one of the symbols of the Italian agent’s ability to guide players to the very highest level.
The transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 remains one of the most analyzed deals in soccer history. The transfer fee was around $114M, a world record at the time.
However, it was Raiola’s commission that sparked intense debate. According to several estimates, his fees from this transfer may have reached around $53M, a total amount that notably includes sums received from the player (Paul Pogba), the selling club (Juventus), and the buying club (Manchester United), beyond the 24 million pounds (approximately $29M) officially reported by Juventus. This amount can be explained by his position of multiple representation, which allowed him to receive commissions from the player (Paul Pogba), the selling club (Juventus), and the buying club (Manchester United).
The FFAR (FIFA Football Agent Regulations), which came into force in January 2023, now limits situations of dual or multiple representation and caps agent commissions. This regulatory development is directly part of the FIFA agent exam.
Where the agent was historically a simple intermediary, Mino Raiola established himself as a key player in negotiations. By consistently placing his players’ interests at the forefront, he helped strengthen their power in relation to clubs.
Mino Raiola’s impact can also be seen in several structural changes in the transfer market:
Through his way of operating, the creation of Maguire Tax & Legal, and his record-breaking transfers, the Italian agent helped turn the transfer window into a true economic and media driver.
Mino Raiola’s influence also accelerated the implementation of new regulations. Certain practices, such as high commissions or multiple representation, created tensions with soccer governing bodies.
These developments led to the introduction of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) in 2022, which now govern:
These rules are at the core of the agent profession and constitute a key element of the FIFA agent exam.
Mino Raiola’s personal net worth was estimated at around $54M in 2022. However, this amount does not reflect all the income generated over the course of his career. The Italian agent is believed to have generated more than $800 millions in cumulative commissions.
This difference is explained by the economic model of the agent profession, where financial flows are significant without directly corresponding to the agent’s personal wealth. This total of cumulative commissions illustrates Raiola’s major influence on the transfer market.
After Mino Raiola’s death, Rafaela Pimenta, his long-time collaborator, took over the agency and the Italian agent’s client portfolio.
A trained lawyer, she was already part of the organization and was particularly involved in the legal aspects of negotiations. She now ensures the continuity of the agency by managing players and ongoing deals.
Mino Raiola redefined the role of the sports agent by introducing a strategic approach centered on players’ interests. Through major transfers and the management of international stars, he left a lasting mark on the soccer market.
His influence can now be seen in the professionalization of the profession, the evolution of negotiations, and the strengthening of the regulatory framework. Understanding his career helps shed light on the current challenges of the FIFA agent profession and the skills required to succeed in it.
