Mino Raiola, the agent who represented some of football’s most high-profile players, has died at the age of 54.
The Dutch-Italian’s stable of players included Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Raiola was also president of the Football Forum, which represented leading agents and their players.
“His presence will be forever missed,” the Raiola family said in a statement.
It read: “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.”
The statement added: “Mino’s mission of making football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.
“We thank everybody for the huge amount of support received during these difficult times and ask for respect to the privacy of family and friends in this moment of grief.”
His family were forced to contradict reports that he had died earlier in the week but said he was fighting for his life in Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital.
