Paul Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta explained that her client still has ‘so much to give to Juventus’ and described the difficult moments after colleague Mino Raiola’s death. The super-agent was speaking with Corriere della Sera (as quoted by IlBianonero) and discussed the changing face of football, the importance of the women’s game, and why Erling Haaland will be the first player to be worth a billion.
“Paul is like a nephew, actually a son. We fight, then we make up. He’s a golden boy. He is very sorry for this season at Juve: he had arrived happy as a child, for him to come back was a dream. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way he wanted, but now he is optimistic because his fitness is finally improving. He has to turn over a new leaf, he has so much to give to Juventus.”
“Mino’s death? I come back to the office in Monte Carlo the day after the funeral and I find five agents, five, sitting in front of my desk. We are here to do you a favor, they tell me. They want not only the players’ proxies, but even the whole company, the ‘One’ agency. They look at the map of the world hanging on the wall behind my chair, with pictures of our boys, like it was a treasure map. After one minute, all five of them end up out the door. That’s actually where I realized I had to move on. I’m telling the truth: There was a moment, during Raiola’s long illness, when I had even thought about quitting. But it was not right. It was not for me, for our clients, for the people who worked with us, for Mino.”
“Haaland? I tell you not how much he costs, but how much he is worth: he will be the first footballer to be worth a billion. Think of the spin-off he generates, at only 22 years old: trophies, sponsors, marketing, social, content. How much can he bring to a club? Not only in the so-called real world, but also in the digital world. He will be the first champion of the metaverse. The future is there. He has everything: strength, humility. But his real strength is normality. His secret is his family: his father, a former football player, has helped him a lot. He will break all records.”
“Serie A? When I started, I used to talk to Brazilian players: they all wanted Italy. If you proposed England they would say: what did I do wrong to you? Now, however, Serie A is coming back: the two teams in the semifinals of the Champions League, the feat of Napoli, winning by playing well. The worst is behind us. Of course, there is still work to be done.”
“Football? It is a movement that is growing enormously. Today ten-year-old boys are watching women’s football matches: this is the most concrete sign of a change that is already taking place. The stadiums are full, there is enthusiasm, but there is still much to be done. My dream is to get to real equality: salary, management, recognition. It will be the women who will succeed. On their own, as always.”
