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{{Short description|Italian-Dutch football agent (1967–2022)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Mino Raiola
| image        = Mino Raiola, de eigenaar van Grand Café Doria. NL-HlmNHA 54035048.JPG
| alt          =
| caption      = Raiola in 1994
| birth_name   = Carmine Raiola
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1967|11|4|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Nocera Inferiore]], Italy
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2022|4|30|1967|11|4|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Milan]], Italy
| occupation   = [[Sports agent|Football agent]]
| years_active = 1992–2022
}}
'''Carmine''' "'''Mino'''" '''Raiola''' ({{IPA|it|ˈkarmine ˈmiːno ˈraːjola, - raˈjɔːla|lang}}; 4 November 1967 – 30 April 2022) was an Italian-Dutch [[Sports agent|football agent]] known for having represented players such as [[Pavel Nedvěd]], [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]],  [[Paul Pogba]], and [[Erling Haaland]].
Raiola began his career in the Netherlands in 1992, where he had lived since moving there as a child, helping transfer Dutch players to Italy's [[Serie A]]. After starting his own agency, he became a renowned super-agent who was involved with many of the most high-profile and expensive transfers of the 21st century. A controversial figure, Raiola developed a reputation among players as an agent who sought the best for his clients, while many owners and managers considered him untrustworthy.
== Early life ==
Raiola was born in 1967 in [[Nocera Inferiore]], [[Campania]], in southern Italy. He moved to the Dutch city of [[Haarlem]] a year later with his parents.<ref name="secolo">{{cite web |last=Crecchi |first=Paolo |date=18 March 2011 |title=Il cacciatore di piedi: Mino Raiola |trans-title=The hunter of feet: Mino Raiola |url=http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/sport/2011/03/18/AOuCIVF-piedi_cacciatore_raiola.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321184240/http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/sport/2011/03/18/AOuCIVF-piedi_cacciatore_raiola.shtml |archive-date=21 March 2011 |accessdate=27 September 2016 |website=[[Il Secolo XIX]] |language=it}}</ref><ref name="11Freunde">{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Charlotte |url=https://11freunde.de/artikel/in-der-bundesliga-verhandeln-nichtsk%C3%B6nner/592907 |title="In der Bundesliga verhandeln Nichtskönner" |trans-title="In the Bundesliga, non-professionals negotiate" |work=[[11 Freunde]] |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |language=DE}}</ref> In the Netherlands, his father established a chain of pizzerias.<ref name="FTObit">{{Cite news |last=Kuper |first=Simon |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cec54696-c96f-4292-aecd-a94591e0742f |title=Mino Raiola, football agent, 1967-2022 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=1 May 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> There, Raiola spent his younger years, first washing dishes in an attempt to grow closer to his father,<ref name="FT">{{cite news |last=Kuper |first=Simon |url=https://www.ft.com/content/548155cc-9bcf-11e6-b8c6-568a43813464 |title=Mino Raiola: meet the super-agent behind Pogba and Ibrahimovic |date=28 October 2016 |access-date=30 April 2022 |work=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> and later as a waiter.<ref>{{cite web |last=Piccardi |first=Gaia |title=Parla Raiola: "Balotelli non è leader, Liverpool per lui è l'ultima spiaggia" |url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/14_agosto_23/parla-raiola-balotelli-non-leader-liverpool-lui-l-ultima-spiaggia-8866096e-2a89-11e4-9f31-ce6c8510794f.shtml |date=23 August 2014 |access-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111214004/http://www.corriere.it/sport/14_agosto_23/parla-raiola-balotelli-non-leader-liverpool-lui-l-ultima-spiaggia-8866096e-2a89-11e4-9f31-ce6c8510794f.shtml |archive-date=11 November 2020 |website=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it}}</ref> Due to his Dutch-language skills being greater than those of his father, he eventually began advising and organising within the business.<ref name="11Freunde"/> At the same time, he obtained his high school diploma and attended university for two years, enrolling in the Faculty of Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2010 |title=Calciomercato: il trionfo di Mino Raiola |trans-title=Transfer market: the triumph of Mino Raiola |url=http://blog.panorama.it/sport/2010/08/31/calciomercato-il-trionfo-di-mino-raiola/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610201401/http://blog.panorama.it/sport/2010/08/31/calciomercato-il-trionfo-di-mino-raiola/ |archive-date=10 June 2011 |access-date=27 September 2016 |website=[[Panorama (magazine)|Panorama]] |language=it}}</ref> In a 2016 interview with German sports magazine ''[[11 Freunde]]'', he said his law studies were wasted time; "after all, I can buy lawyers".<ref name="11Freunde"/> He started playing football for the youth team of [[HFC Haarlem]], but stopped at age 18 in 1987 to become head of the youth team,<ref name="secolo"/> and later the club's technical director.<ref name="11Freunde"/><ref name="FT"/>
== Agency career ==
After a brief venture as a player and administrator, Raiola remained involved in the football world as a football agent. He began working at Sports Promotions,<ref name="Bleacher">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Tom |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2850603-dr-mino-and-mr-raiola-the-two-sides-of-footballs-most-controversial-agent |title=Dr. Mino and Mr. Raiola: The Two Sides of Football's Most Controversial Agent |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> a sports agency company, and assisted in the transfers of several high-profile Dutch players to Italian clubs, including [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] player [[Bryan Roy]] (in 1992 to [[Foggia Calcio|Foggia]]), [[Marciano Vink]] (in 1993 to [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]]), [[Wim Jonk]] and [[Dennis Bergkamp]] (both in 1993 to [[Inter Milan]]), and [[Michel Kreek]] (in 1994 to [[Calcio Padova|Padua]]). Speaking to British broadcaster [[Sky Sports]] in 2021, Roy and Kreek both praised Raiola for his ability to help them settle and taking the time to help with everyday aspects of their lives, including opening bank accounts, buying cars, and arranging accommodation.<ref name="SkySports">{{cite web |last=Bate |first=Adam |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12464162/mino-raiola-rise-of-a-super-agent |title=Mino Raiola's rise from pizzeria worker to becoming a football super-agent |date=8 November 2021 |access-date=30 April 2022 |work=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref> While staying with Roy in Foggia, Raiola met his wife and encountered the club's manager [[Zdeněk Zeman]], with whom he quickly became friends.<ref name="Haugstad">{{cite web |last=Haugstad |first=Thore |date=16 February 2019 |title=Just like family: The dealings of Mino Raiola |url=http://timeontheball.net/2019/02/16/just-like-family/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Time On The Ball}}</ref> Zeman requested from Raiola a player "who dribbled like [[Maradona]], ran 17 km per game and trained like a fanatic", but Raiola believed such a player did not exist.<ref name="LaRepubblica">{{cite web |last=Gamba |first=Emanuele |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2022/04/30/news/chi_era_mino_raiola_procuratore_re_del_calciomercato-347547731/ |title=Chi era Mino Raiola, il procuratore re del calciomercato |trans-title=Who was Mino Raiola, the prosecutor king of the transfer market |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[La Repubblica]] |language=IT |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
After falling out with Rob Jansen, who founded Sports Promotions and had been his boss,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Koster |first1=Mark |last2=Zeven |first2=Martijn |url=https://www.quotenet.nl/sport/a212649/quote-500-zaakwaarnemer-mino-raiola-rob-jansen-heeft-al-tien-jaar-niet-geslapen-om-mij-212649/ |title=Quote 500-zaakwaarnemer Mino Raiola: 'Rob Jansen heeft al tien jaar niet geslapen om mij' |trans-title=Quote 500 agent Mino Raiola: 'Rob Jansen hasn't slept for ten years because of me' |date=2 April 2018 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Quote (magazine)|Quote]] |language=NL}}</ref> Raiola decided to leave the company and start his own business. In 1995, the European Court of Justice's [[Bosman ruling]] allowed out-of-contract players to move throughout the [[European Union]] without transfer fees; coupled with an increase in television money in the sport, transfers and player contracts became more important in club football, and agents became more necessary to players than ever.<ref name="FTObit"/> His first major independent transfer was [[Pavel Nedvěd]]'s signing from [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] for [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] following his impressive performance at [[UEFA Euro 1996]].<ref name="SkySports"/><ref name="Haugstad"/> Lazio's manager at the time was Zdeněk Zeman, and Nedvěd fit the description he had given Raiola years earlier.<ref name="LaRepubblica"/> Raiola held several of his clients to the standard set by Nedvěd, an "extremist" who could "train harder than you can imagine".<ref name="FT"/><ref name="Bleacher"/><ref name="Haugstad"/> Raiola instigated Nedvěd's transfer to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in 2001<ref>{{cite web |last=Tristán |first=Carlos |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/2016/08/08/57a8524d268e3e062c8b4664.html |title='Superagente' Raiola |trans-title='Superagent' Raiola |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |language=ES}}</ref> and received a commission of six billion lira.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cardone |first=Giulio |date=30 April 2022 |title=Raiola, la prima missione impossibile: Nedved dalla Lazio alla Juventus e quella commissione da sei miliardi di lire |trans-title=Raiola, the first impossible mission: Nedved from Lazio to Juventus and that six-billion-lire commission |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2022/04/30/news/raiola_nedved_juventus_lazio_trattativa-347565749/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[La Repubblica]] |language=IT}}</ref> With Juventus, Nedvěd won the [[Ballon d'Or]] in 2003<ref name="TFT">{{cite web |last=Rice-Coates |first=Callum |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/31/21785mino-raiola-the-super-agent-who-changed-the-face-of-modern-football/ |title=Mino Raiola: the super-agent who changed the face of modern football |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=30 April 2022 |work=[[These Football Times]]}}</ref> Raiola later guided several of [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]]'s transfers that led him to being [[List of most expensive association football transfers#Cumulative transfers|cumulatively the second-most expensive footballer]] in history by 2016.<ref name="FT"/> In 2008, Raiola was involved in two disciplinary hearings instigated by the [[Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio]] (FIGC) for transfer irregularities as part of a wider investigation of professional football by Italian authorities.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 November 2008 |title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 34/CDN (2008–09) |language=it |work=[[Italian Football Federation]] |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/28.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_19934_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307051901/https://www.figc.it/assets/contentresources_2/contenutogenerico/28.$plit/c_2_contenutogenerico_19934_strillocomunicatoufficiale_lstallegati_allegato_0_upfallegato.pdf|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=6 November 2008|title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 60/CGF |language=it |work=Italian Football Federation |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/35.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_19935_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307051545/http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/35.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_19935_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=19 December 2008|title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 84/CGF |language=it |work=Italian Football Federation |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/61.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_20177_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307050055/http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/61.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_20177_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=c. 2007|title=Agent Regulation (Old Edition) |language=it |work=Italian Football Federation |url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/36.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_3818_lstSezioni_numSezione0_lstCapitoli_numCapitolo0_upfFileUpload_it.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307044933/http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/36.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_3818_lstSezioni_numSezione0_lstCapitoli_numCapitolo0_upfFileUpload_it.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>
In August 2016, after closing the [[List of most expensive association football transfers|world record]] transfer of [[Paul Pogba]] to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], Raiola made a reported €25&nbsp;million from Pogba's €105&nbsp;million transfer; he subsequently bought the former [[Miami]] home of gangster [[Al Capone]] for €9&nbsp;million.<ref name="record">{{cite web |last=Gladwell |first=Ben |date=18 August 2016 |title=Pogba and Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola buys Al Capone's home |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2931665/pogba-and-ibrahimovics-agent-mino-raiola-buys-al-capones-home |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604053845/https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2931665/pogba-and-ibrahimovics-agent-mino-raiola-buys-al-capones-home |archive-date=4 June 2020 |access-date=23 August 2016 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On 8 May 2019, the [[Italian Football Federation]] banned Raiola from acting as an agent representative for three months for undisclosed reasons, while his cousin Vincenzo Raiola was banned for two months.<ref name="ban">{{cite web |last=Campanale |first=Susy |date=8 May 2019 |title=Agent Raiola given three-month ban |url=https://www.football-italia.net/137821/agent-raiola-given-three-month-ban |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233706/https://www.football-italia.net/137821/agent-raiola-given-three-month-ban |archive-date=7 November 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020 |work=Football Italia}}</ref> On 10 May, the bans were extended worldwide after the [[FIFA Disciplinary Committee]] absorbed the Italian federation's decisions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Caferoglu |first=Livio |date=10 May 2019 |title=Raiola ban extended worldwide |url=https://www.football-italia.net/137900/raiola-ban-extended-worldwide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807014941/https://www.football-italia.net/137900/raiola-ban-extended-worldwide |archive-date=7 August 2020 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Football Italia}}</ref> On 13 June, after Raiola and his cousin appealed the original ban to the Federal Court of Appeal in Italy, they won, resulting in a revocation of the three-month ban.<ref>{{cite web |last=Campanale |first=Susy |date=13 June 2019 |title=Raiola three-month ban revoked |url=https://www.football-italia.net/139352/raiola-three-month-ban-revoked |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617184457/https://www.football-italia.net/139352/raiola-three-month-ban-revoked |archive-date=17 June 2019 |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Football Italia}}</ref>
In 2019, Raiola, along with fellow agents [[Roger Wittmann]], [[Jorge Mendes]] and [[Jonathan Barnett (sports agent)|Jonathan Barnett]], formed "The Football Forum", an international movement of players and agents to help create a new football system opposed to FIFA.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Löwendorf |first1=Niclas |last2=Berger |first2=Patrick |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/2021/12/raiola-meine-spieler-sind-alle-krank-im-kopf-exklusiv-im-sport1-interview-uber-haaland-wechsel-kommende-transfers |title=Raiola: "Meine Spieler sind alle krank im Kopf" - exklusiv im SPORT1-Interview über Haaland-Wechsel and kommende Transfers |trans-title=Raiola: "My players are all sick in the head" - exclusively in the SPORT1 interview about Haaland change and upcoming transfers |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Sport1 (Germany)|Sport1]] |language=DE}}</ref> On 22 January 2020, Raiola, along with Mendes and Barnett among others, threatened FIFA with legal sanctions following the planned cap on transfer payments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stone |first=Simon |date=22 January 2020 |title=Agents threaten Fifa with legal action over transfer payment cap plans |work=[[BBC Sport]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51211078 |access-date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123133532/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51211078 |archive-date=23 January 2020}}</ref> During a 2021 interview with ''[[The Athletic]]'', Raiola explained that his feelings towards FIFA stemmed from the many scandals and allegations of corruption aimed at the organisation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |author-link1=Daniel Taylor (journalist) |last2=Horncastle |first2=James |author-link2=James Horncastle |url=https://theathletic.com/2483756/2022/04/30/mino-raiola-and-jonathan-barnett-an-audience-with-two-super-agents/ |title=Interview: Mino Raiola and Jonathan Barnett, two football super agents |date=30 March 2021 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Athletic]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==Reputation==
Viewed as a "super-agent",<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Williams (journalist) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jun/24/super-agent-mino-raiola-player-manager-football-deals |title=Super-agent Mino Raiola is a player's dream and a manager's nightmare |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Herbert |first=Ian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/mino-raiola-super-agent-manchester-united-zlatan-ibrahimovic-paul-pogba-a7726996.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/mino-raiola-super-agent-manchester-united-zlatan-ibrahimovic-paul-pogba-a7726996.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The explosive documents which reveal the extent of 'super-agent' Mino Raiola's extraordinary earning power |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref name="BBCInt">{{cite web |last=Roan |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Roan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56168683 |title=Mino Raiola on Erling Braut Haaland, Paul Pogba, scrapping relegation and the future of football |date=23 February 2021 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> Raiola was among the most high-profile agents in football, with his involvement in lucrative transfers making him as famous as his clients.<ref name="Bleacher"/> He was regularly categorised as being among the richest and most powerful agents in the sport,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11377682/The-20-most-powerful-football-agents-in-European-football.html |title=The 20 most powerful football agents in European football |date=30 January 2015 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Quarrell |first=Dan |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/who-are-football-s-biggest-agents-what-is-a-super-agent-jorge-mendes-mino-raiola-represent-who_sto5699705/story.shtml |title=Who are football's biggest agents? What is a super agent? Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola - big transfers |date=27 July 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Eurosport]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Davies |first=Huw |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/these-are-20-most-powerful-agents-football |title=The 20 most powerful agents in football |date=19 October 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[FourFourTwo]]}}</ref> and upon his death in 2022, Italian newspaper ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]'' described him as "the most powerful, the best, the most discussed".<ref>{{cite web |last=Zara |first=Furio |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/28-04-2022/morto-mino-raiola-re-calciomercato-sua-storia-4301014760600.shtml |title=Bravo, potente, temuto (e amato dai suoi campioni): così Mino dal nulla è diventato il re del mercato |trans-title=Bravo, powerful, feared (and loved by his champions): so Mino out of nowhere became the king of the market |work=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |language=IT}}</ref>
Due to his success, Raiola was a controversial figure seen as unscrupulous and impudent,<ref>{{cite web |last=Zara |first=Furio |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/news/la-storia-di-raiola-il-re-mida-in-bermuda-che-ha-cambiato-il-cal-98016 |title=La storia di Raiola, il Re Mida in bermuda che ha cambiato il calcio |trans-title=The story of Raiola, the King Midas in Bermuda who changed football |work=CalcioMercato |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |language=IT}}</ref> and his brash style led him into conflict with figures throughout world football such as Napoli chairman [[Aurelio De Laurentiis]], who he compared to fascist dictator [[Benito Mussolini]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilnapolista.it/2012/07/raiola-de-laurentiis-pensa-di-essere-ai-tempi-del-fascismo-e-hamisk-e-meglio-che-vada-via-come-insigne/ |title=Raiola: De Laurentiis pensa di essere ai tempi del fascismo e Hamsik è meglio che vada via, come Insigne |trans-title=Raiola: De Laurentiis thinks he is at the time of fascism and Hamsik better go away, like Insigne |date=23 July 2012 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Il Napolista |language=IT}}</ref> and former [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] manager [[Alex Ferguson]], who labelled Raiola a "shitbag" while recalling dealings he had with Raiola which lead to the departure of [[Paul Pogba]] from the club.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lovett |first=Samuel |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-news-sir-alex-ferguson-mino-raiola-a-shitbag-a7823386.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-news-sir-alex-ferguson-mino-raiola-a-shitbag-a7823386.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson brands Mino Raiola a 'shitbag' |date=4 July 2017 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> Football executive [[Adriano Galliani]], who dealt with Raiola at [[AC Milan]], said he and Raiola developed a positive relationship based on sympathy due to the conflicting interests of the other, and acknowledging that Raiola only wanted what was best for his clients.<ref>{{cite web |last=Colombo |first=Monica |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/22_maggio_01/galliani-raiola-era-duro-ma-leale-lui-avevo-rapporto-simpatia-ba306916-c915-11ec-9820-58d31043d436.shtml |title=Galliani: "Raiola era duro ma leale. Due gli affari che non dimenticherò mai" |trans-title=Galliani: "Raiola was tough but loyal. Two deals that I will never forget" |date=1 May 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=IT}}</ref>
Raiola was known for his tough negotiation tactics and for frequently defending his clients from criticism.<ref name="FTObit"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/seven-times-agent-mino-raiola-has-pssed-off-a-club-man-utd-barca-milan/ |title=Seven times Mino Raiola has pissed clubs off: Man Utd, Liverpool, Barca |date=8 December 2020 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=Planet Football}}</ref> He often used the media to attack pundits and managers, such as [[Paul Scholes]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11478183/paul-pogbas-agent-mino-raiola-slams-paul-scholes-criticism-of-manchester-united-star |title=Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola slams Paul Scholes' criticism of Manchester United star |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref> and in one instance referred to [[Pep Guardiola]] by saying, "as a person he's an absolute zero. He's a coward, a dog".<ref>{{cite web |last=Moxley |first=Neil |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/super-agent-mino-raiola-launches-12246000 |title=Super-agent Mino Raiola launches incredible attack on Pep Guardiola: "He's a coward, a dog" |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref> Dutch journalist Taco van den Velde attributed his success to his hard work and intelligence, and his ability to fight for what was best for his client.<ref name="Bleacher"/> Raiola described himself as an "altruist" in contrast to fellow agent Jorge Mendes, who he described as an "egoist", due to the differing motivations of both.<ref name="11Freunde"/>
Due to working for his father's restaurant, the caricature of Raiola as a "pizza-maker" formed following a clash with former [[Inter Milan]] player [[Siniša Mihajlović]].<ref name="Sport1">{{cite web |last1=Löwendorf |first1=Niclas |last2=Berger |first2=Patrick |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/2021/12/mino-raiola-zorc-muss-mich-gehasst-haben-exklusiv-im-sport1-interview-uber-bvb-haaland-seine-karriere |title=Mino Raiola: "Zorc muss mich gehasst haben" - exklusiv im SPORT1-Interview über BVB, Haaland and seine Karriere |trans-title=Mino Raiola: "Zorc must have hated me" - exclusively in the SPORT1 interview about BVB, Haaland and his career |date=9 December 2021 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Sport1 (Germany)|Sport1]] |language=DE}}</ref> He was often characterised as being from the American television programme [[The Sopranos]] due to his personality, fashion sense, and attitude,<ref>{{cite web |last=Knipping |first=Tom |url=https://www.vi.nl/pro/hoe-cowboy-mino-raiola-in-25-jaar-het-voetbal-veroverde- |title=Hoe cowboy Mino Raiola in 25 jaar het voetbal veroverde |trans-title=How cowboy Mino Raiola conquered football in 25 years |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Voetbal International]] |language=NL}}</ref> including by Ibrahimović,<ref>{{cite web |last=Keith |first=Felix |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mino-raiola-pizza-super-agent-26842173 |title=Mino Raiola: From pizza chef to football's most powerful agent via Alex Ferguson row |date=1 May 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Horncastle |first=James |author-link=James Horncastle |url=https://theathletic.com/3285756/2022/05/01/mino-raiola-the-super-agent-loved-by-footballs-biggest-stars/ |title=Mino Raiola, the superagent loved by football's biggest stars |date=1 May 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Athletic]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and was regularly underestimated due to his appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20170709-mino-raiola-genius-big-mouth-best-friend-stars |title=Mino Raiola: 'Genius' and 'big mouth' best friend to the stars |date=9 July 2017 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[France 24]]}}</ref> In his autobiography ''[[I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović]]'', he recalled choosing Raiola as his new agent after Dutch journalist {{interlanguage link|Thijs Slegers|nl}} called Raiola a "[[Gangster|mafioso]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Hytner |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/09/mino-raiola-agent-manchester-united |title=Mino Raiola: a fearless negotiator who got his revenge with Paul Pogba deal |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Writing for Spanish newspaper ''[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]'' in 2016, José Félix Díaz noted that Raiola's residence in [[Monaco]] was in a small apartment rather than an luxurious mansion, and his lifestyle had not changed, as he opted to not wear fancy clothing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Díaz |first=José Félix |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/2016/09/04/57cbd384ca4741cc1a8b45c2.html |title=Raiola, de vender pizzas a ser el rey del verano |trans-title=Raiola, from selling pizzas to being the king of summer |date=4 September 2016 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |language=ES}}</ref> His office was based in [[Monte Carlo]] and had only four employees and "no traces of luxury", according to Italian newspaper ''[[La Repubblica]]''.<ref name="LaRepubblica"/>
== Personal life and death ==
Raiola resided in the principality of [[Monaco]] with his family.<ref name="FT"/> He spoke seven languages: Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Dutch.<ref name="secolo"/><ref name="LaRepubblica"/>
In January 2022, Raiola was admitted to [[San Raffaele Hospital]] in Milan, where he underwent surgery.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/12-01-2022/mino-raiola-operato-430879784410.shtml |title=Raiola operato, è sotto osservazione al San Raffaele. Poi twitta: "Controlli programmati" |trans-title=Raiola operated, is under observation at San Raffaele. Then he tweets: "Scheduled checks" |work=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |date=12 January 2022 |access-date=30 April 2022 |language=IT}}</ref> Staff of Raiola denied reports he was in intensive care, describing them as "routine checks", and he was discharged ten days later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2022/01/21/news/raiola_sospiro_di_sollievo_e_stato_dimesso_dall_ospedale-334711905/ |title=Mino Raiola dimesso dall'ospedale San Raffaele di Milano |trans-title=Mino Raiola discharged from San Raffaele Hospital in Milan |work=[[La Repubblica]] |date=12 January 2022 |access-date=30 April 2022 |language=IT}}</ref> In April, Raiola's business partner and a doctor treating him both indicated that Raiola was "fighting" for his life.<ref>{{cite news |title=Agent Mino Raiola angry amid false reporting of death |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/zlatan-ibrahimovic/story/4652885/mino-raiola-angry-amid-false-reporting-of-death |access-date=28 April 2022 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On 28 April, several news outlets reported his death, which he subsequently refuted in a social media post, stating: "Second time in 4 months they kill me."<ref>{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Tom |date=28 April 2022 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/04/28/super-agent-mino-raiola-insists-not-dead-second-time-four-months/ |title=Super-agent Mino Raiola insists he is not dead: 'Second time in four months they kill me' |work=Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> On 30 April, Raiola's family released a statement confirming that he had died at the age of 54.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mino Raiola, one of football's most powerful agents, dies aged 54 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/30/mino-raiola-one-of-footballs-most-powerful-agents-dies-aged-54 |website=The Guardian |date=30 April 2022 |access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref>
==Notable clients==
{{Div col|colwidth=}}
* {{Fbicon|ITA}} [[Mario Balotelli]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|ARM}} [[Henrikh Mkhitaryan]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|NED}} [[Matthijs de Ligt]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Chandler |first=Michael J. |title=Pogba, De Ligt agent Raiola banned by FIFA |url=https://www.thescore.com/bund/news/1770852 |access-date=29 November 2020 |website=theScore.com}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|ITA}} [[Gianluigi Donnarumma]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|CZE}} [[Zdeněk Grygera]]<ref name="Sporting briefs">{{Cite news|date=31 August 2004 |title=Sporting briefs |publisher=[[Times of Malta]] |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/sporting-briefs.269795 |access-date=4 September 2010}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|NOR}} [[Erling Haaland]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Skilbeck|first=John|date=22 January 2020|title=Haaland agent hints Dortmund striker could make future Premier League move|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/erling-haaland-agent-mino-raiola-borussia-dortmund-striker/1eupwq4bbmhez1708yaxmr3xmt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201184927/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/erling-haaland-agent-mino-raiola-borussia-dortmund-striker/1eupwq4bbmhez1708yaxmr3xmt|archive-date=1 February 2020|accessdate=1 February 2020|website=Goal}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|EGY}} [[Mido (footballer)|Mido]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mido: Raiola was banned from entering Roma because of me|url=https://www.kingfut.com/2016/09/20/mido-raiola-banned-entering-roma/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |date=20 September 2016 |first1=Abdelrahman |last1=Amr |website=[[KingFut]]}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|SWE}} [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|ITA}} [[Lorenzo Insigne]]<ref name="ban"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/154522/official-insigne-ends-raiola-link |title=Official: Insigne ends Raiola link |date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720200132/https://www.football-italia.net/154522/official-insigne-ends-raiola-link |archive-date=20 July 2020 |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=Football Italia}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|ITA}} [[Moise Kean]]<ref name="ban"/>
* {{Fbicon|ENG}} [[Jesse Lingard]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11902134/manchester-uniteds-jesse-lingard-teams-up-with-super-agent-mino-raiola |title=Manchester United's Jesse Lingard teams up with super-agent Mino Raiola |date=6 January 2020 |access-date=1 May 2022 |work=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|MEX}} [[Hirving Lozano]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 April 2018 |title=Chucky Lozano se va con el representante de Ibra y Pogba |language=es-MX |work=MedioTiempo |url=https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/2018/04/23/chucky-lozano-se-va-con-el-representante-de-ibra-y-pogba |access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|BEL}} [[Romelu Lukaku]]<ref name="Haugstad"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/lukaku-says-goodbye-to-raiola-his-new-agent-is-jay-z-11126 |title=Lukaku says goodbye to Raiola; his new agent is Jay-Z |date=19 April 2018 |access-date=29 November 2020 |website=Calciomercato |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105062133/https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/lukaku-says-goodbye-to-raiola-his-new-agent-is-jay-z-11126|archive-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|NED}} [[Donyell Malen]]<ref>{{cite web |date=23 September 2019 |title=Milan continue to evaluate PSV's Malen|url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/milan-continue-to-evaluate-psv-s-malen-34508 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105062129/https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/milan-continue-to-evaluate-psv-s-malen-34508 |archive-date=5 January 2020|access-date=29 November 2020|website=Calciomercato}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|FRA}} [[Blaise Matuidi]]<ref name="SoFoot">{{cite press release |url=http://www.sofoot.com/matuidi-change-d-agent-168917.html |publisher=SoFoot.com |title=Matuidi change d'agent|date=24 April 2013|accessdate=24 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604053852/https://www.sofoot.com/matuidi-change-d-agent-168917.html|archive-date=4 June 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|BRA}} [[Maxwell (footballer, born 1981)|Maxwell]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|CZE}} [[Pavel Nedvěd]]<ref name="Haugstad"/>
* {{Fbicon|FRA}} [[Paul Pogba]]<ref name="Haugstad"/><ref name="record"/>
* {{Fbicon|NED}} [[Xavi Simons]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2019|title=Mino Raiola, agent of Pogba and De Ligt, takes Xavi Simons, the great promise of the Masía, from Barça, and sends it to PSG|url=https://fcbarcelonasport.com/2019/07/23/mino-raiola-agent-of-pogba-and-de-ligt-takes-xavi-simons-the-great-promise-of-the-masia-from-barca-and-sends-it-to-psg/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107091554/https://fcbarcelonasport.com/2019/07/23/mino-raiola-agent-of-pogba-and-de-ligt-takes-xavi-simons-the-great-promise-of-the-masia-from-barca-and-sends-it-to-psg/|archive-date=7 November 2020|access-date=15 June 2020|website=FC Barcelona Sport}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|NED}} [[Gregory van der Wiel]]<ref name="SoFoot"/>
* {{Fbicon|ITA}} [[Marco Verratti]]<ref>{{cite web |date=19 July 2017 |title=Official: Verratti hires Raiola |url=https://www.football-italia.net/106037/official-verratti-hires-raiola |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929142031/https://www.football-italia.net/106037/official-verratti-hires-raiola |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=29 November 2020 |website=Football Italia}}</ref>
* {{Fbicon|SVK}} [[Vladimír Weiss (footballer, born 1989)|Vladimír Weiss]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-01 |title=Zabezpečiť som sa mohol už na Ukrajine. V tom zavolal Mino Raiola, spomína Weiss |url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/futbal/clanok/zabezpecit-som-sa-mohol-uz-na-ukrajine-v-tom-zavolal-mino-raiola-spomina-weiss-2023042718562132404 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=Šport.sk}}</ref>
{{div-col-end}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raiola, Mino}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Association football agents]]
[[Category:Dutch sports agents]]
[[Category:Italian emigrants to the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Italian sports agents]]
[[Category:People of Campanian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Province of Salerno]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Haarlem]]
[[Category:Dutch people of Italian descent]]