Mino Raiola says he is 'ready to go to war' at the negotiation table for his players as the super-agent compared the hardest transfer dealings as playing against Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Italian negotiator is currently the agent of multiple football superstars, including Erling Haaland and Manchester United's Paul Pogba, who is out of contract at Old Trafford in the summer.
However, a name firmly imprinted on the minds of the Reds hierarchy is the Borussia Dortmund striker. The 22-year-old will be on the radar of a number of clubs and has already been sounded out as a United striking priority.
Ralf Rangnick knows the Norwegian well after bringing him to RB Salzburg from Molde in 2019, prior to his Bundesliga switch.
Also on the Italian's books is Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, who was previously linked with a United move, as well as Ryan Gravenberch who is becoming a hot prospect in Europe for his performances with Ajax.
With Ed Woodward's time at the club coming to an end, Raiola's comments pose a warning to the next to succeed the 50-year-old when it comes to negotiations for one of his assets.
He told German outlet Sport1 : "I am ready to go to war for my players. I am ready to do everything for them. Just like for my sons. The sports directors hate me? Why do they hate you? I've never sat with a gun on the table in negotiations.
"I simply know very well the value of my players and what the clubs need. If they hate me, then it's the greatest compliment for me. Then I do something well. If they said: '[It's] Good that Raiola is advising the player, then it will be easy for us', I would have a problem.
"The ones where the clueless sit at the table, who know nothing about business. Which is more difficult: playing against Ronaldo or against someone who can't do anything on the ball? It's only fun when your counterpart also understands something about the business. A negotiation never lasts more than a week. The big deals are carefully prepared one or two years in advance."
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