Football agent Mino Raiola has made the radical suggestion that transfer fees should be abolished.
Raiola’s comments come amid proposed changes from FIFA on the amounts spent on football agents’ fees, with the super agent slamming the plans.
The changes would cap any agents’ fees at 10 per cent of the transfer fee and three per cent of a player’s wages.
Agents would also be prevented from working for two clubs in the same deal, while their names and contact details would be listed in a publicly-available database, with all transactions being made public where data protection laws allow it.
FIFA are looking to publish the new guidelines early next year, despite threats of legal action from the likes of Raiola and other 'super agents' such as Jonathan Barnett and Jorge Mendes.
Raiola has been vocal in his criticism of the plans, telling Studio Voetbal (via NOS Football ): “I don't take it. An agent must earn as much as possible for the player. What will be higher with this plan? The transfer fee or the salary?
“In fact, FIFA is saying that they do not go against the transfer fees, but against the salaries. The negotiating position of the players is thus compromised.”
And when asked what changes he would make, Raiola suggested his own drastic measures.
“Abolish the transfer fee. Then we will only talk about salaries," he said.
“The whole system is wrong. It was invented by people who have no knowledge of the profession.”
Raiola’s suggestion, although unlikely, would see the biggest shake-up in football transfers since the Bosman ruling – which allows players to move for free at the end of their contracts – was introduced.
Raiola of course holds a special interest in retaining agents fees as they are, with the likes of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland represented by him.
Both players are likely to be the subject of intense transfer speculation over the next few months, with Pogba coming to the end of his contract at Old Trafford, while Haaland is being linked with Europe’s top clubs, including United and Manchester City.
We’ve teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to vote for their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Vote for the match that mattered to you here .
