Sports
How Football Agents Are Influencing the Beautiful Game
On 17 June 2021, it was announced in the Mirror that Italian top-flight club ACF Fiorentina had parted ways with head coach Gennaro Gattuso after just 23 days in charge.
The decision sent shockwaves through the football world; not because of the brevity of his tenure but because of the revelations of disagreements between the club and Gattuso’s agent, Jorge Mendes, regarding recruitment policy.
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The club’s hierarchy thought they were simply signing a coach but in fact, they were also linking up with an agent intent on bringing his own clients to the club.
When Gattuso revealed this to his new bosses, it became clear that this concept clashed with their own transfer policy – and budget – and relationships began to break down.
The reluctance of the club to work with Mendes ended with Gattuso leaving the club and again highlighted the growing influence agents have on the game.
Wider Effects of Agent Behaviour
Gattuso’s sudden departures came as a blow to Fiorentina fans who have not had much luck with managerial appointments in recent years.
It may have also had a knock-on effect on punters who were looking to back Fiorentina to finish in the top six or to win a trophy under Gatusso.
Backing a team so early often means better odds, but it can also mean that unknown factors such as sudden player or managerial departures are not taken into account.
A similar situation happened in 2016 when Lazio appointed Marcelo Bielsa only for the Argentine to quit two days later. Sometimes it is better to wait until the start of the season to see the bigger picture before wagering on outcomes. That’s where betting guides such as asiabet.org can be useful in helping punters decide where, when, and how to wager.
The other knock-on effect from this saga will be the financial cost to the club who will now have to begin a new recruitment process with less time available and other potential candidates now signed up elsewhere.
How an Agent Can Transform a Single Club
Jorge Mendes kick-started his career as a football agent when he began representing former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo when he was still a player back in 1996. He had also been a long-time representative of Jose Mourinho who businesspost.ng recently reported had joined as the new coach of AS Roma.
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The Lisbon-born negotiator has since gone on to become one of the most powerful figures in the game. So much so, that his influence extends far beyond just brokering transfers. In 2016, he oversaw the recruitment of 12 players in six weeks to English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers after forming a close relationship with the club’s new owners.
He also helped bring in Espirito Santo as head coach and together the pair transformed the club, bringing in many more of Mendes’ clients and achieving promotion and then consolidation in the Premier League. During this spell, the club’s transfer record was broken more than half a dozen times. No other club in the English top-flight has ever been so influenced by a single agent.
Treading a Fine Line
Before Wolves were promoted to the Premier League, the Football League (EFL) conducted an investigation into Mendes’s involvement but the club were cleared of any wrongdoing despite claims from other clubs that Mendes was working as a de facto Director of Football.
Under league rules, agents are not permitted to hold such roles at clubs. Despite the findings, there is no doubt that so-called “super agents” such as Mendes wield immense power in the modern game.
For Wolves the outcome was positive as the club returned to the top flight and finished 7th for two straight seasons, reaching an FA Cup semi-final in 2019 and the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2020. This was followed by a 13th-place finish in 2020/21 after which Espirito Santo left the club.
Agents’ Influence over Players
A great example of the influence and power an agent can have over a single player is the transfer of Paul Pogba from Manchester United to Juventus. Sir Alex Ferguson was one of the most powerful figures in the game but even he could not prevent Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola from convincing the player to leave for Italy.
Ferguson later used expletive terms to describe Raiola’s role in unsettling the player. As if to rub salt in the wounds, the same agent later sold Pogba back to the Red Devils for a world record fee of £89.3 million of which he pocketed a 40% commission fee.
Another super-agent, Pini Zahavi, introduced the concept of third-party ownership to the English game. The most famous example was Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano’s joint move to West Ham United in 2006. This practice, where investment groups buy and sell players’ rights like commodities, has since been banned by FIFA and the European Parliament but still exists in certain countries.
The influx of money into modern sport has made the role of the agent more crucial than ever. But there are genuine concerns about the amount of influence they hold over the players and whether they are truly acting in the best interests of their clients. In most cases, the player now has little influence over their own career paths and simply ends up signing whatever deal is most lucrative for their agent.
The Super Bowl is far more than a football game. Each year, it becomes a global cultural moment, where sport, music, and social conversation collide. Super Bowl LX promises to be no exception. While fans anticipate the on-field clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, much of the world’s attention has shifted to the halftime stage airing on both ESPN and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219), where three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny will make history.
The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to become the first non-English-speaking artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. His selection has sparked debate in the United States, particularly amid ongoing anti-ICE protests, but it also signals a broader recognition of his cultural impact. Known for pushing artistic boundaries and amplifying underrepresented voices, Bad Bunny brings a rare combination of commercial appeal and social consciousness to the NFL’s biggest stage.
The timing of his performance carries added weight. Just a week before the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos). He used his acceptance speech to address immigration and human dignity, declaring: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” and calling on audiences to respond to hate with love. That statement has heightened expectations that his halftime show will blend spectacle with message, marking a performance that is about identity as much as entertainment.
As anticipation builds, questions linger over how Bad Bunny will translate this cultural moment on the field. Will the show lean entirely into his chart-topping hits, or will it echo the themes of unity and resistance he spoke of at the Grammys? Either way, the performance is already being framed as a defining cultural moment of 2026, with viewers worldwide eager to witness history in the making.
For audiences in Nigeria, Super Bowl LX and Bad Bunny’s historic halftime performance will air live on both ESPN and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219) on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 12:30 am WAT. Be sure to also take advantage of the ongoing We Got You offer, where you pay for your current package and DStv upgrades you to the next higher package at no extra cost. This offer runs till February 28, 2026.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading financial services groups in Africa, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, is championing great experiences and heritage by being the main sponsor of NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament.
The competition is one of Africa’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events and for this year’s edition, it will bring together top local and international polo teams and spectators from across the continent and beyond.
The contest commenced on Tuesday, January 27 at the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi and will end on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The 2026 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament will feature top‑tier teams competing for major prizes, including the Majekodunmi Cup, Independence Cup, Open Cup, Silver Cup and Low Cup, among others.
Guests can expect a fusion of thrilling equestrian action, polo-inspired lifestyle showcase, and curated hospitality experiences. The event will also be livestreamed, allowing audiences online to share in the excitement and spectacle.
Commenting on GTCO’s role as main sponsor of the Lagos International Polo Tournament, the chief executive of the firm, Mr Segun Agbaje, said, “This tournament, one of the oldest in Africa, celebrates not only the noble sport of polo but the values we hold dear as a brand: teamwork, discipline, fair play, and a commitment to excellence.
“Beyond the field, it showcases Nigeria and Africa to a global audience, reinforcing the continent’s place on the world stage. Our longstanding sponsorship of the NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament reflects our conviction that sport can amplify opportunity, foster connections, and deliver world-class experiences for all.”
The NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament has long been celebrated not only for its thrilling competition and equestrian excellence but also for its rich heritage and cultural resonance within Africa’s sporting tradition. GTCO’s sponsorship embodies the Group’s commitment to creating platforms that unite communities and drive social impact across diverse audiences.
If you’re looking for a fun, reliable, and exciting online betting experience in Nigeria, you’re in the right place. PariPesa Nigeria brings together casino entertainment, sports betting, and modern gaming options designed just for you. Let’s break it all down.
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Take a look at the main categories of games available.
Slots
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PariPesa is synonymous with a complete gaming experience in Nigeria. From casino games and betting to eSports and virtual sports, everything is covered. The navigation is simple, reliable, and let’s be honest, entertaining! So, join PariPesa Nigeria today and enjoy top choices made for people like you!
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