They decide the destination of Ronaldo-Haaland

 They decide the destination of Ronaldo-Haaland

Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes(Twitter)

On April 30th of last year, the 'super agent' Mino Raiola passed away. After his death, many star footballers, including Erling Haaland and Paul Pogba, expressed their grief and sent messages. There is no information that Italian-born Raiola ever played professional football or worked as a coach. However, even without playing football, Raiola was a prominent figure in the world of football, known as a super agent.

But Raiola was not alone; there are many others on this list who play a crucial role in determining the future of footballers. Their main job is to represent players during club negotiations and facilitate transfers to desired clubs through bargaining and negotiations. Football agents hold separate importance for both clubs and players, prioritizing their own interests. They also earn significant amounts of money for their services.

The journey of modern football has shifted from art to machinery, as stated by Uruguayan literary and sports writer Eduardo Galeano. Despite the growing influence of mechanization in football, the game has become more organized and commercialized. At one level, the game has become more globalized, thanks to the wealth of club football. As football writer Franklin Foer described in his book "How Soccer Explains the World," a club from the Basque region is fielding Dutch and Turkish players under the guidance of a Welsh coach. On the other hand, a club from Moldova is acquiring Nigerian players. Wherever you look, you might suddenly feel that nationalism and identity have faded away in the destiny of football history.

In this era of globalization, agents have become increasingly important in connecting footballers from various regions with their suitable and desired goals. While they work on various aspects, including commercial contracts for the players, agents primarily play a crucial role during the transfer window. Especially in January, June, and July, their busyness and demand are at its peak. However, in many cases, even loyal supporters of footballers work as their agents. For example, Lionel Messi's agent is his father, Jorge Messi. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about Kylian Mbappé's mother, Fayza Lamari, working as his agent.

Fayza's moves regarding Mbappé's transfer have created a tremendous buzz. It is believed that as a football agent, her rise will bring new dynamics to the transfer market. However, Fayza is not the only female agent in the industry. Brazilian football agent and former partner of Raiola, Raffaela Pimenta, has also gained importance during this time. Currently, Pimenta is considered the first and only female super agent. Below, we present an introduction to five notable agents of the present time.

Jorge Mendes

Jorge Mendes(Getty)

Arguably the most talked-about super agent at the moment is Jorge Mendes. Just a few days ago, this Portuguese agent was best known as the agent of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. However, news of his rift with Ronaldo emerged recently. It was reported that the Portuguese agent and Ronaldo were at odds, possibly leading to a deterioration in their relationship.

However, Mendes assures that their personal relationship remains the same as before. He stated, "Our personal relationship is deep. Cristiano will always be in my heart." Besides Ronaldo, Mendes has played a crucial role in determining the fate of many other Portuguese players, including Diego Costa, João Mário, David de Gea, James Rodríguez, and João Félix. It's not just football either, as Mendes also represents stars from other sports, including Formula One.

Rafaela Pimenta

Rafaela Pimenta(Twitter)

Once worked with Rivaldo, Pimenta's rise as an agent primarily occurred after Rivaldo's retirement. She currently works as a football agent for many present-day stars, including Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Mathias de Ligt, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Marco Veratti. This Brazilian woman is actively engaged in the football industry as an agent.

Especially with regard to the Rivaldo market, Pimenta is leading with great expertise. A Premier League manager once stated, "Pimenta is the most important person in football, and nobody knows it." Even now, only a very small number of people are aware of Pimenta. She has also received assistance in studying law, which has helped her in her role as an agent.

Jonathan Barnett

Jonathan Barnett(Linkedin)

Jonathan Barnett is associated with the organization named ICM Stellar Sports Group. However, Gareth Bale has introduced Barnett as an agent. Barnett has represented Welsh star Bale for a long time. He played a significant role in Bale's move from Tottenham to Real Madrid. Apart from Bale, an notable client of Barnett is Jack Grealish. Through his representation, Grealish broke the British transfer record by moving from Aston Villa to Manchester City. Additionally, Barnett also represents other Real Madrid stars such as Eduardo Camavinga, Calvin Phillips, Ibrahimovic Konate, and Kieran Tierney.

Pere Guardiola

Pere Guardiola(Twitter)

Upon seeing the name, does it remind you of Pep Guardiola? It's possible because Pere Guardiola is the brother of Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. However, their connection is not solely based on being siblings; Pere Guardiola himself is a renowned super agent. He had previously earned significant income by sending Uruguayan stars to Barcelona. At one time, he worked as an agent for many players, including Hector Bellerin, Jan Toral, and Luis Suarez. It is heard that Pere has a significant influence as an agent on both Manchester clubs. His analytical abilities, experience, and knowledge of football have made many players and clubs prioritize him as their agent.

Federico Pastorello

Federico Pastorello(Facebook)

Among the top super agents in football, Federico Pastorello stands out. He primarily represents Romelu Lukaku and has been involved in negotiations on his behalf. Pastorello facilitated Lukaku's controversial transfer from Chelsea to Inter Milan. Prior to that, he also represented Lukaku during his time at Manchester United. Apart from Lukaku, Pastorello also works as the representative for Inter Milan star Stefan de Vrij among others.