High-profile super-agent Mino Raiola died at the age of 54 following an illness, his family has confirmed.
Raiola – who was the representative of such stars as Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – was forced to take to social media and slam suggestions he had died on Thursday.
But in a statement, a statement from his family said: ‘In infinite sorrow, we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent that ever was.
Mino fought until the end with the same strength he put on negotiation tables to defend our players. As usual, Mino made us proud and never realised it.
‘Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football. His presence will forever be missed.
‘Mino’s mission of making football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.’
High-profile super agent Mino Raiola has died at the age of 54 following an illness.Raiola, who also represents Marco Verratti, Matthijs de Ligt and Gianluigi Donnarumma, was previously hospitalised in January due to an unspecified issue.
Raiola underwent very delicate surgery but the nature of the illness was not revealed.
Reports said at the time the condition wasn’t life-threatening and that Raiola would begin a period of rehabilitation at home – but he had been back in intensive care in recent weeks.
There were then reports on Thursday in Italy that he had passed away, but some of his industry colleagues were left confused by the reports, having been in contact with the 54-year-old, and it soon emerged they were premature.
Raiola, in hospital in Milan, wrote on Twitter: ‘Current health status for the ones wondering: p****d off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to resuscitate.’
