Mino Raiola, the super-agent of Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, and Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland is not dead contrary to earlier reports that he was no more.
Earlier today, viral reports surfaced on the internet which claimed that the 54-year-old Italian super-agent had passed away after a short battle with an undisclosed illness.
As football fans across the world were paying their tribute to the super-agent due to the news that he was no more, his family members and some close associations debunked the report.
Though the agent is still alive, reports confirmed that the agent is in critical condition at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy.
Before now, there was a report that Raiola is battling a lung-related condition. A German publication, Bild, confirmed that his present health issue is connected to his lung condition.
Immediately the news broke that he was no more, the biggest reaction to the news came from the Spanish La Liga giants, Real Madrid. The club said which has done a couple of businesses with the agent took to Twitter to pay tribute to the agent.
The Spanish club wrote: “Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Mino Raiola and would like to express their condolences, their affection and their affection to all his relatives and loved ones.”
After a report claimed that a close associate of Mino Raiola’s family had debunked the report about the demise of the agent, Real Madrid deleted the tweet.
To further clarify the situation, transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Dr. Alberto Zangrillo from San Raffaele Hospital, the medical facility where Mino Raiola is currently battling for his life, has confirmed that the agent is still alive.
The transfer expert tweeted: “Dr. Alberto Zangrillo from San Raffaele Hospital in Milano tells Ansa on Mino Raiola conditions: “I’m outraged by the phone calls from pseudo-journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting to survive”.
Dr. Alberto Zangrillo from San Raffaele Hospital in Milano tells Ansa on Mino Raiola conditions: “I’m outraged by the phone calls from pseudo-journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting to survive”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 28, 2022
Also, the man in question, Mino Raiola, took to his verified Twitter page less than an hour after reports went viral that he had died to debunk the report. In the tweet, the Superagent said he was “pissed off” by the fake report about his demise.
“Current health status for the ones wondering: pissed off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to resuscitate”, the superagent tweeted on Thursday, April 28, 2022.
Current health status for the ones wondering: pissed off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to ressuscitate.
— Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) April 28, 2022
This is not the first time Mino Raiola had to debunk fake reports concerning his health
In January 2022, reports went viral that Mino Raiola underwent an emergency surgery at San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport was the first to break the report.
But on January 12, 2022, the super-agent had to take to his verified Twitter page to debunk the report, stressing that he only went to the hospital for a planned medical check.
“Mino Raiola is undergoing ordinary medical checks that require anesthesia”, the agent tweeted. “All was planned and no emergency surgery happened.”
Mino Raiola is undergoing ordinary medical checks that require anestesia. All was planned and no emergency surgery happened.
— Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) January 12, 2022
Who are the footballer agents Raiola has worked with and what is his relationship with them?
Agent Mino Raiola is one of the most powerful football agents in the world. The 54-year-old Italian football agent has worked with legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He has been a close associate with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for years and is reportedly behind the transfer of the 40-year-old Swedish striker from Paris Saint Germain to Manchester United, and from United to an MLS club, LA Galaxy. He also engineered Ibrahimovic’s move to AC Milan in 2020.
From all indications, Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba is the biggest client of the super Italian agent. Raiola made Manchester United pay a then world-transfer record fee of £89 million to Juventus in 2016 just to sign Pogba who used to be United’s academy player.
Reports claimed that the Italian agent is the most trusted agent of Pogba. The contract between United and the French footballer will expire on June 30, 2022, and United would not extend his stay.
Pogba has been banking on the agent to get him a new club before the expiration of his current contract which means that the Frenchman would be praying for the speedy recovery of the agent.
Another big name on the list of agent Raiola is the highly sought-after striker, Erling Haaland. The Italian agent has been working to sell the Norwegian striker to one of the big clubs in Europe begging for his signature.
Due to the interest in Haaland, Raiola has had meetings with FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid. At the time of publishing this report, Haaland’s next move has not been confirmed.
The agent has also been working with Matthijs De Ligt of FC Barcelona, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG, and Mario Balotelli.
According to Forbes, Mino Raiola has made a whopping £68 million serving as the agent of footballers across Europe.
