Sports

How Football Agents Are Influencing the Beautiful Game

Published

5 years ago

01/07/2021

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.

Sports

Super Falcons in Group C for WAFCON

Published

2 days ago

16/01/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been drawn in Group C with Egypt, Zambia and Malawi for the defence of their Women’s’ Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in March, which will be hosted again in Morocco.

Last year, the Nigerian team won the record 10th tournament after defeating the host nation, Morocco, 3-2 in a spectacular final after going down 2-0.

The 2026 edition will be played in Morocco from March 17-April 3, eight months after the last tournament.

The last edition slated for 2024 was postponed by a year for logistical reasons as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) could not get interested hosts.

The next edition which will be the 14th edition and Nigeria will be hoping to win the women’s tournament for the 11th time.

Nigeria’s dominance is only rivalled by Equatorial Guinea which won as hosts of the 2008 and 2012 editions. South Africa won the 2022 edition to become the third African nation to ever win the tournament.

The next edition carries added importance because it serves as qualifying for next year’s Women’s World Cup, with the top four finishers taking up Africa’s slots in the global tournament to be hosted by Brazil.

GROUPS

Group A (Rabat Moulay Hassan Stadium): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya,

Group B (Rabat Al Madina Stadium): South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania

Group C (Casablanca): Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Group D (Fes): Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde.

Sports

AFCON: BUA Chair to Redeem Super Eagles $500,000 Pledge Despite Loss

Published

3 days ago

15/01/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Chairman of BUA Group, Mr Abdul Samad Rabiu, has reaffirmed his commitment to reward the Super Eagles with the promised $500,000 despite losing the semi-final match against Morocco in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday night.

The Nigerian senior national football team lost the tie against Morocco 4-2 on penalties after both sides failed to break the deadlock after 120 minutes.

In a post on his official Instagram on Thursday, the billionaire industrialist commended the football team for their determination and unity throughout the competition.

Mr Rabiu said the players displayed admirable grit and commitment on the field, adding that although the trophy eluded them, their performance inspired pride and admiration among Nigerians at home and abroad.

“To our brave Super Eagles, You fought with your hearts, gave your all, and showed true courage and determination on the pitch. Though it wasn’t meant to be this time, you have made every Nigerian proud.

“Sometimes, even our best efforts don’t bring the outcome we hope for, but the spirit, passion, and unity you displayed are what truly matter. You left everything on the field, and that is worthy of celebration.

“As a token of appreciation for your remarkable journey and effort, I am still going ahead to fulfill the pledge of $500,000. This is in recognition of your hard work, dedication, and the joy you have brought to our nation.

“Keep your heads high, Super Eagles – the experience, lessons, and spirit will fuel even greater success next time. Nigeria will always be proud of you, and we believe in your future victories!” the statement read.

Nigeria failed to advance to the final of the 2025 AFCON yesterday after losing to Morocco’s Atlas Lions in a tense penalty shootout, a result that sent the North African side through to the final.

Moroccan goalkeeper, Yacine Bounou saved kicks from both Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to convert the winning kick and spark wild celebrations inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Nigeria will play Egypt in the bronze medal match on Sunday, January 18 while Morocco will face 2021 winners, Senegal for the chance to win the trophy for the first time in 50 years.

Sports

Carabao Cup, AFCON Semi-Finals Take Centre Stage Live on SuperSport

Published

4 days ago

13/01/2026

Business Post Contributor

Midweek football delivers decisive moments across three competitions as the Carabao Cup reaches the semi-final in England, Serie A’s title contenders play their games in hand, and the Africa Cup of Nations narrows down to its final two. Fans can follow every fixture live on SuperSport across DStv and GOtv.

Carabao Cup: Semi-Final Second Legs Decide Wembley Places

The Carabao Cup semi-finals conclude with two heavyweight fixtures as clubs push for a place in the final at Wembley.

On Tuesday at 9:00 p.m., Newcastle host Man City at St James’ Park. Newcastle enter the second leg as defending Carabao Cup champions and come into the tie in strong domestic form, having recorded three straight league wins and progressed in the FA Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Bournemouth.

City arrive after a heavy FA Cup win against Exeter City but are still searching for consistency in the league following a run of draws. Both sides have navigated the competition efficiently so far, setting up a finely balanced contest.

Wednesday’s second semi-final sees Chelsea host Arsenal at 9:00 p.m. Chelsea begin the second leg under new manager Liam Rosenior after a convincing FA Cup victory over Charlton, though league form has been less consistent following a recent defeat to Fulham.

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrive as Premier League leaders and remain active in all major competitions this season. Their FA Cup win over Portsmouth maintained momentum as they look to secure a return to Wembley.

Both Carabao Cup semi-final matches air live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203).

Serie A: Games in Hand Shape the Title Race

Serie A’s midweek programme features three fixtures involving clubs playing their game in hand, with implications at both ends of the table.

On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Napoli host Parma. Napoli were held to a draw by Inter Milan in their previous outing and sit fourth, level on points with Juventus. With other contenders also in action, a win could lift them further up the standings. Parma arrive after a narrow victory over Lecce and continue to look upward from mid-table.

Later on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m., leaders Inter Milan face Lecce at the San Siro. Inter saw their winning run halted by Napoli but remain three points clear at the top. Lecce arrive having suffered consecutive defeats and will be aiming to secure a positive result in a difficult away fixture.

Thursday’s action concludes at 8:45 p.m. as AC Milan travel to face Como. Milan sit second but have been held to back-to-back draws and will be seeking a return to winning form. Como, coached by Cesc Fàbregas, have impressed this season and sit sixth, boasting one of the league’s strongest defensive records.

All Serie A fixtures are broadcast live on SS Africa 2 (GOtv Ch. 64, DStv Ch. 208).

AFCON 2025: Semi-Finals Decide Finalists

The Africa Cup of Nations reaches its penultimate stage with two semi-final clashes scheduled for Wednesday.

Senegal face Egypt at 6:00 p.m. in Tangier in a renewal of a recent AFCON rivalry. Senegal, winners of the 2021 edition, have progressed with control and balance, while Egypt have relied on resilience and decisive moments in the knockout rounds. The matchup once again brings together key figures from both sides as a place in the final is at stake.

Later at 9:00 p.m., Nigeria meet hosts Morocco in Rabat. Nigeria advanced after a disciplined quarter-final performance, while Morocco continue to combine defensive organisation with efficiency in attack. With home support behind them, Morocco face a Nigerian side that has shown attacking consistency throughout the tournament.

Both AFCON semi-finals air live on SS AFCON (GOtv Ch. 59, DStv Ch. 202).