Who are football's biggest agents? What is a super agent? Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola - big transfers
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Updated 27/07/2016 at 13:26 GMT
As another transfer window brings up the same old names and agent talk, we take a look at which players football's biggest agents represent and more.
Cristiano Ronaldo with his son, mother and agent Jorge Mendes
Image credit: AFP
Who are the biggest agents in football?
Last year, the Daily Telegraph produced a report looking into who the most powerful football agents in European football were, and the results were pretty eye-watering.
The report concluded that leading the way was Jonathan Barnett, of Stellar Group, who masterminded Gareth Bale's £86 million move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid.
"Matching Barnett's tally of 13 players among the big European clubs is Jorge Mendes of Gestifute, who has been involved in some of the biggest transfer deals of all time including Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, James Rodriguez's £63 million switch from Monaco to Real Madrid and Angel Di Maria £60 million move from the Spanish giants to United," the report read.
It also highlighted that Mondial Promotions represents a large chunk of the French market, including stars such as Raphael Varane, Olivier Giroud, Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy.
Meanwhile, Jose Otin at Bahia International was identified as having a strong presence in the Spanish market and Volker Struth of SportsTotal as dominating the German market.
Paul Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, has made headlines in the summer transfer window over his enormous fee demands and is frequently referred to as one of the game's "super agents".
What is a super agent?
Quite simply, the phrase "super agent" is used to describe the biggest power-wielders around.
The representatives behind some of sport's most significant - and expensive - deals, particularly those who boast an extensive portfolio of clients, get put in this category.
Mendes and Raiola are perhaps the two agents who most often get associated with this category - and appear to enjoy the tag.
Who are the most powerful agents?
Well, as highlighted by the Telegraph's in-depth report, here are the top 10:
- Jonathan Barnett (Stellar)
- Jorge Mendes (Gestifute)
- Volker Struth (SportsTotal)
- Mino Raiola
- Jose Otin (Bahia International)
- Pinhas Zahavi
- Jerome Anderson (SEM)
- Thomas Kroth (PRO Profil)
- Simon Bayliff (Wasserman Media Group)
- Andrea Pastorello
Which top stars do the biggest agents represent?
Jonathan Barnett (Stellar) - Including: Gareth Bale, Joe Hart, Wojciech Szczesny, Scott Sinclair, Luke Shaw, Rafael, Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, Sylvain Distin.
Jorge Mendes (Gestifute) - Including: Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Eliaquim Mangala, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Jose Mourinho, Fabio Coentrao, Diego Costa, Thiago Silva, Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, David De Gea.
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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) reacts while watching a video as he sits next to his agent Jorge Mendes during a ceremony at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid
Image credit: Reuters
Mondial - Including: Ramires, Raphael Varane, Olivier Giroud, Yohan Cabaye, Dunga, Coutinho, Aymeric Laporte, Fernando Llorente, Mathieu Debuchy.
Volker Struth (SportsTotal) - Including: Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Benedikt Howedes, Sidney Sam, Omer Toprak, Josip Drmic, Gonzalo Castro.
Mino Raiola - Including: Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkitarhyan, Blaise Matuidi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Mario Balotelli, Romelu Lukaku.
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Mino Raiola
Image credit: AFP
Jose Otin (Bahia International) - Including: Javi Martinez, Pedro, Jesus Navas, Raul Garcia, Nacho Monreal, Fernando Torres.
Pinhas Zahavi - Including: Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Joao Moutinho.
Jerome Anderson (SEM) - Including: Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards, Steven Davis, Nick Powell.
Thomas Kroth (PRO Profil) - Including: Manuel Neuer, Shinji Kagawa, Sebastian Rode, Jose Holebas.
Simon Bayliff (Wasserman Media Group) - Including: Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi, Tim Howard, Ryan Bertrand.
Andrea Pastorello - Including: Patrice Evra, Giuseppe Rossi, Morgan de Sanctis.
What have stars said about Jorge Mendes?
Jose Mourinho in 2010: "There is only one person who can win the best agent of the year award and it's Jorge Mendes."
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015: "He is the Cristiano Ronaldo of football agents."
Which stars have family members representing them?
Many footballers have family members acting on their behalf in place of a conventional and recognised agent, including:
- Lionel Messi
- Arjen Robben
- Eden Hazard
- Juan Mata
- Neymar
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Neymar's father
Image credit: Eurosport
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