The legacy of renowned football agent Mino Raiola continues to influence the soccer world nearly two years after his passing in 2022. Known as a 'super agent' with a formidable reputation for securing maximum value for his clients, Raiola's impact on football transfers was undeniable, even drawing criticism from legendary managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola.
His unexpected death at age 54 in Milan left a void in the football agency world, triggering an outpouring of emotional tributes from high-profile clients. Manchester City's Erling Haaland called him "the best," while Mario Balotelli referred to him as his "second father." Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressed his grief, saying he had "cried until the last drop finished."
The passing created immediate challenges for Raiola's family business. His cousin Enzo Raiola, speaking to BBC Sport, revealed the difficult circumstances they faced. "Even when he was sick, all our attention was on helping him get better," Enzo explained. "Nothing was in place, and we didn't think we would need to reorganize everything while grieving - it was extremely difficult."
The situation was further complicated by rival agents attempting to poach their clients amid false reports of Mino's death while he was still fighting for his life. The family had to quickly restructure the business that Mino had built from early deals with Pavel Nedved and Dennis Bergkamp to later representing stars like Haaland and Paul Pogba.
Enzo, who had worked alongside Mino for 15 years, described his cousin as a "one-man show" with a complex personality. "Mino wouldn't let anyone step over him," he recalled. "He would battle in negotiations, or even just in a hotel lobby to get the right room." While fierce in business, Mino showed profound compassion behind the scenes with players and partners.
The business has since evolved into Team Raiola, with some players following Mino's former partner Rafaela Pimenta, while others stayed with Enzo and trusted scout Jose Fortes Rodriguez. The agency now represents Premier League talents including Tottenham's Micky van de Ven, Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch, and Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert.
Adapting to modern football's demands, Team Raiola has expanded its services through a separate company run by Mino's son Mario, focusing on data analytics, media rights, and digital communications. "We must not be the same one-man band we were before," Enzo noted, acknowledging the importance of data in modern football operations, similar to clubs like Brentford and Brighton.
Jose Fortes Rodriguez, Mino's long-time scout turned agent, shared insights about their current clients. He recalled discovering Micky van de Ven in the Dutch second division, recognizing his Premier League potential from just 20 minutes of observation. About Ryan Gravenberch, he remembered thinking "Wow, wow, wow" upon first seeing him at Ajax, though noting the player still needs to be less polite on the field. Justin Kluivert, who has played across Europe's top leagues, was identified early as having "a big career ahead of him."
The evolution of Raiola's empire demonstrates how modern football agency must balance personal relationships with data-driven decision-making, while maintaining the fierce advocacy for players that was Mino's hallmark.
