{"id":15615,"date":"2026-04-30T10:24:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T08:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/?p=15615"},"modified":"2026-04-30T10:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T08:24:06","slug":"mino-raiola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en-us\/blog\/mino-raiola","title":{"rendered":"Mino Raiola, the Agent who Shaped Modern Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola<\/strong>, whose real name was Carmine Raiola<\/strong>, was very likely the most famous sports agent in the history of soccer<\/strong>. He introduced a new vision of the player-agent profession<\/a> and transformed every transfer into a strategic negotiation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola established himself as a public figure in the soccer world<\/strong>. He did not hesitate to speak in the media, firmly defend his players, and criticize clubs or governing bodies when he deemed it necessary.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s now explore Mino Raiola\u2019s career in soccer<\/strong>, the players he represented throughout his career, and the impact he had on the transfer market.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Mino<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Who Was Mino Raiola?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola was born on November 4, 1967, in Italy<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>, long before the agent profession was formally regulated.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fluent in several languages (Italian, Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese), Mino Raiola quickly stood out for his unconventional profile<\/strong> in the soccer world.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He embodied a new generation of agents<\/strong>, more visible, more influential, and fully committed to defending the interests of their players.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Happened to Mino Raiola?<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In March 2022, a serious lung disease (fibrosis) affecting Mino Raiola<\/strong> was publicly announced. The Italian agent battled the illness for several weeks before passing away on April 30, 2022<\/strong>, at the age of 54<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Scudetto is for Mino Raiola. It\u2019s the first title I win without Mino by my side.\u201d \u2013 Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107, May 2022<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola\u2019s Career in Soccer<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola\u2019s path<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He quickly developed a strong business sense. At the age of 20, he co-founded the company \u201cIntermezzo\u201d with Massimo Videmonti, specializing in connecting Dutch players with foreign clubs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In 1993, Raiola made a name for himself with the transfer of Dennis Bergkamp<\/strong> from Ajax Amsterdam to Inter Milan. This deal marked a turning point in the Italian agent\u2019s career and opened the doors to Europe\u2019s top clubs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Creation of Maguire Tax & Legal<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following this first success in the transfer market, Mino Raiola abandoned his other activities and founded Maguire Tax & Legal<\/strong> in the early 2000s. This agency opened offices in Monaco, the Netherlands, Brazil, and the Czech Republic, where scouts<\/a>, legal experts, and tax advisors were recruited. At that point, the Italian agent transformed sports representation into a full-scale, multi-service business.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola\u2019s Biggest Transfers from 1993 to 2022<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Period<\/th>\nKey event<\/th>\nImpact on Mino Raiola\u2019s career<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1993<\/td>\nDennis Bergkamp (from Ajax to Inter Milan)<\/td>\nFirst major deal, breakthrough on the European stage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Late 1990s<\/td>\nPavel Nedv\u011bd (from Lazio to Juventus)<\/td>\nConfirmation of his influence in the Italian market<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2001\u20132012<\/td>\nManaged Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107, Maxwell, Balotelli<\/td>\nRise to prominence with elite and high-profile players<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\nZlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 (from AC Milan to PSG)<\/td>\nParticipation in a defining transfer for PSG<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\nPaul Pogba (from Manchester United to Juventus, free transfer)<\/td>\nMajor strategic move, symbol of his long-term vision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\nPaul Pogba (from Juventus to Manchester United, $108M)<\/td>\nWorld record transfer, international recognition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018\u20132022<\/td>\nDe Ligt, Haaland, Donnarumma, Lukaku<\/td>\nManagement of the new generation of European stars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Which Players did Mino Raiola Represent?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola did not have a large client portfolio<\/strong>. His strategy focused on a limited number of star players<\/strong> in order to maximize his influence on each deal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Most Iconic Players Represented by Mino Raiola<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Zlatan<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 is one of the players most closely associated with Mino Raiola<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Paul Pogba<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Paul Pogba case symbolizes Mino Raiola\u2019s influence on the transfer market<\/strong>. After leaving on a free transfer to Juventus in 2012, Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 for a record fee of over $108M.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Erling<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland quickly became one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Raiola structured his progression with strategic club choices<\/strong> (Salzburg, then Dortmund), while negotiating favorable long-term clauses.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dennis Bergkamp<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Dennis<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The transfer of Dennis Bergkamp<\/strong> from Ajax Amsterdam to Inter Milan in 1993 marked Mino Raiola\u2019s first major move<\/strong>. This deal allowed him to build a name in the industry and demonstrate his ability to handle international transfers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pavel Nedv\u011bd<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Pavel<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The transfer of the Czech midfielder from Lazio to Juventus in the late 1990s strengthened Raiola\u2019s credibility<\/strong> with major clubs. Pavel Nedv\u011bd<\/strong>, a future Ballon d\u2019Or winner, became one of the symbols of the Italian agent\u2019s ability to guide players to the very highest level.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How Much Did Mino Raiola Earn from Pogba?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

However, it was Raiola\u2019s commission<\/strong> that sparked intense debate. According to several estimates, his fees from this transfer may have reached around $53M<\/strong>, 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).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The FFAR (FIFA Football Agent Regulations)<\/strong>, 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Impact did Mino Raiola Have on the Transfer Market?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Shift in the Balance of Power<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Where the agent was historically a simple intermediary, Mino Raiola established himself as a key player in negotiations<\/strong>. By consistently placing his players\u2019 interests at the forefront, he helped strengthen their power in relation to clubs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Direct Influence on Market Evolution<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mino Raiola\u2019s impact<\/strong> can also be seen in several structural changes in the transfer market:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n