Super-agent Mino Raiola has died aged 54, his family have confirmed.
In a statement posted on Twitter, it was announced the Italian sadly lost his health battle.
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 out players.
“As usual, Mino made us proud and never realized it.
“Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football.
“His presence will forever be missed. Mino’s mission of making football a batter place for players will continue with the same passion.
“We thank everybody fo the huge amount of support received during these difficult times and ask for respect and privacy of family and friends in this moment of grief.
“The Raiola Family.”
Earlier this week, Italian media had wrongly claimed the football broker had passed away, which was then reported by the world’s press.
Real Madrid even paid their condolences after the fake reports emerged, which Raiola was forced to deny it from his hospital bed.
He tweeted: “Current health status for the ones wondering: p***d off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to resuscitate.”
However, his family confirmed the sad news of his death just two days later.
Raiola had been suffering with a lung condition, according to German outlet Bild, before his passing.
The agent was known for looking after Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland and the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He was involved in some of the most historic transfers in history, known for his shrewd bargaining skills with the world’s biggest teams.
Forbes estimate his personal fortune to be around £68million.
He was the man who helped agree the £89m deal to take Pogba back to United from Juventus in 2016 for what was then a world record fee.
SunSport previously revealed how Raiola’s journey to the top of football started by making pizzas.
Born in Nocera Inferiore in Salerno, south-east of Naples, the Raiola family moved to the Dutch city of Haarlem when Mino was just one.
There, they opened a pizzeria called Napoli in Haarlem’s Grote Markt and, not for the first time, Mino was the star with his sales patter, charm and customer service making him more than just a waiter.
Those interpersonal skills were soon transferred as he negotiated with some of the sport’s biggest characters.
Raiola also took care of Matthijs De Ligt and Gianluigi Donnarumma, among others.
