Romelu Lukaku move to Manchester United leads 'super agent' Mino Raiola's eight greatest hits

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  • The infamous Mino Raiola has represented many of football’s finest during a career which has seen him transform from waiter at a pizza restaurant to football’s dominant agent.

    Here we look at some of his greatest hits:

    FRANK RIJKAARD

    The Netherlands great got the ball rolling for Raiola, who helped negotiate his highly-successful move to AC Milan from Sporting Lisbon in 1988.

    As an employee at Sports Promotions, he also helped Dennis Bergkamp’s move to Internazionale.

    Frank Rijkaard (L)

    Frank Rijkaard (L)

    PAVEL NEDVED

    The superlative Czech Republic winger was the first major client for Raiola after he struck out on his own.

    He would take Nedved from Sparta Prague to Lazio in 1996, before €41 million (Dh127.7m) was paid by Juventus for him in 2001.

    Pavel Nedved

    Pavel Nedved

    ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC

    The client most synonymous with Raiola. The brash Sweden superstar labelled the agent a “wonderful, fat idiot” in his book.

    But together they have moved for transfer fees totalling £130m (Dh615.7m) to Juve, Inter, Barcelona, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic

    MARIO BALOTELLI

    Raiola has been the biggest supporter of Italian football’s errant talent. The pair have generated plenty of headlines together in the back and front pages.

    Raiola lured Balotelli by telling him they’d win three Ballon d’Ors together, words which now seem hollow.

    Mario Balotelli

    Mario Balotelli

    HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

    The quiet Armenia playmaker may not seem like a natural fit for the brazen Raiola. Yet he knew whom to hire to fight his corner.

    Raiola reportedly threw a chair in frustration during discussions with Borussia Dortmund’s CEO to force a move to Manchester United.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan

    PAUL POGBA

    Raiola took on Manchester United’s firebrand boss Sir Alex Ferguson about a then teenage Pogba and won. The free transfer to Juve caused the Scot to explode.

    Last summer’s world-record move back to United supposedly came with a €25m (Dh102.5m) fee for Raiola.

    Paul Pogba

    Paul Pogba

    ROMELU LUKAKU

    Extensive reports in England this weekend have cast a light on Raiola’s influence.

    The Italian played a key role in United usurping Chelsea, warning them of talks stalling before gaining a higher cut of the £75m+ (Dh355.2m+) transfer fee.

    Romelu Lukaku

    Romelu Lukaku

    GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA

    Raiola became public enemy number one – yet again – after the prodigious 18-year-old goalkeeper turned down a lucrative new deal at AC Milan.

    A U-turn is reportedly imminent, with the seething Rossoneri refusing to deal with Raiola to secure it.

    Gianluigi Donnarumma

    Gianluigi Donnarumma

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