Mino Raiola died at the age of 54

Mino Raiola, one of football’s most powerful agents, has died at the age of 54, according to his family. His high-profile clients included Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland.

“In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing Football Agent that ever was,” the Italian’s family wrote on Twitter.

“Mino fought to the end with the same strength he put on negotiation tables to defend our players. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it.”

Raiola’s family did not specify the nature of his sickness, although he had been admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital, where he had previously survived scares.

His death came two days after Italian media claimed his death, only for his agency, the director of San Raffaele’s intensive care unit, and finally the guy himself to deny he had died.

Over the course of a long career as both a powerful agency and a divisive figure in the sport, Raiola amassed a glittering roster of athletes, including AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He was chastised for the large sums he made in commissions from his agreements, as well as the massive inflation in player pay that he helped to drive, which has soared to previously inconceivable proportions since the 1990s.

Raiola was born in the southern Italian town of Nocera Inferiore, but his family moved to Haarlem, the Netherlands, when he was only one year old.

He began his career at his family’s pizzeria in the historic city before embarking on a long journey to become one of football’s most powerful agents.

He would routinely butt into conversations between the directors of local side Haarlem FC, whose board would dine at the pizzeria at least once a week, providing his opinion on the club’s state, whether or not it was solicited.

Raiola worked as a technical director at Haarlem for a short time before joining the Sports Promotions firm, which specialized in bringing high-profile Dutch players to Italy.

However, he had grander goals for himself, and his first big break came in the form of Pavel Nedved in 1996.