World Soccer - UK (2022-06)

“This is an enormous step forward in

providing much-needed reform for football”

Former sports minister Tracey Crouch reacts to the government’s

decision to establish an independent regulator in English football

ITALY

‘Super agent’

Mino Raiola

dies aged 54

Mino Raiola, one of the most high-profile
agents in football, has died after suffering
with illness sinceJanuary.
Typically, for a figure who divided opinion
throughout his career in football, Raiola’s
death was fraught with controversy. On
Thursday, April 28, multiple sources reported
that the agent had passed away, only for him
to directly respond to the reports by tweeting
that he was still alive. Two days later though,
a statement from his family confirmed that
he had since passed away.
Born in Italy but raised in the Netherlands,
Raiola cultivated a reputation as one of the
most prominent yet divisive agents in football.
Former Manchester United manager Alex
Ferguson insisted that he would never deal
with him again after Paul Pogba’s departure
from Old Trafford in 2012.
Yet to his clients Raiola was a mentor and
hero. Erling Haaland and Matthijs de Ligt, for
instance, both posted tributes on social media,
with the former describing him as “the best”.
Both Pogba and Haaland are set for
high-profile moves this summer, with the
Frenchman out of contract at Manchester
United and Manchester City reportedly close
to agreeing a deal for the Norway striker.
Both players – as well as the likes of Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Romelu Lukaku and Gianluigi
Donnarumma – will now have to decide
their futures without Raiola’s counsel.

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

Super agent...Raiola

with one of his many

high-profile clients,

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

43

Championship goals scored by Fulham’s Serbian

striker Aleksandar Mitrovic during the 2021-

campaign, a record for the 46-game format.

3

Consecutive home defeats for Barcelona in

April – the first time in the club’s history

that they have suffered such a streak.

£4.25bn

Value of the late bid for Chelsea from British

billionaire SirJim Ratcliffe at the end of April.

1

Carlo Ancelotti is the first coach in history

to win all five major European leagues after

guiding Real Madrid to La Liga glory. The Italian

has also won titles with Milan, Chelsea, Paris

Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

0

Number of matches played in Panama’s top flight

in gameweek12 after the league’s players went

on strike to demand contractual improvements.

6

Number of days per month, according

to media reports, that Ralf Rangnick

will work at Manchester United next

season after agreeing to take charge

of the Austrian national team.

60

Years since Benfica

last won a UEFA title

(1962 European Cup)

prior to their Under-19s’

victory in this season’s

Youth League.

The month numbers

Eye-catching facts and stats from the world of football this month...

in

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with his players

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ts, that Ralf Rangnick

nchester United next

reeing to take charge

national team.

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Klopp

1

In Melbourne City’s 2-1 win againstJeonnam

Dragons in Thailand, Yoshimi Yamashita made

history by becoming the first female to referee

a men’s Asian Champions League match.

12

Players that Bayern Munich had on the pitch

for17 seconds during their win at Freiburg,

prompting a complaint from the home side.

41

SPFL clubs to have voted for the introduction

of VAR into the Scottish Premiership from

next season, with just one side voting against it.

$1.1bn

Valuation of Serie A club Milan according to

a private equity firm from Bahrain, who wish

to purchase the Italian giants.

6

African FAs sanctioned by FIFA following

the World Cup qualifying play-offs in March.

Algeria, Egypt and Morocco will pay fines, as

will Senegal, Nigeria and DR Congo, who will

also play one match behind closed doors.

$5m

Opening bid for Diego Maradona’s “Hand

of God” shirt, which was put up for auction.

1

Oldham Athletic became the first former

Premier League representatives to drop

out of the Football Leaggue following

their relegation from Leeague Two.

17

Years since Reall Betis’ last major

trophy, a seqquence ended by their

penaltyyshoootout win over Valencia

in April’s CCopa del Rey final.

2

Year ccontract extension for

Jurggen Klopp, after the

Liveerpool boss penned

a new deal keeping him

at Anfield until 2026.