Inter director Beppe Marotta is ‘distraught’ at the death of Mino Raiola, but remembers the Paul Pogba moves between Juventus and Manchester United as ‘a double masterpiece.’
The agent has died at the age of 54 after suffering from a lengthy illness, which had seen his demise reported twice in the last four months.
It was confirmed this afternoon by the Raiola family, prompting an outpouring of messages from all over the football world, but particularly within Serie A.
Clubs and clients: football world mourns the death of Mino Raiola
“I am distraught at the death of Mino Raiola,” current Inter and former Juventus director Marotta told Adnkronos news agency.
“He was a friend and a work colleague, a person of quality and elevated competence. We had many positive moments together, collaborating intensively, with a few clashes, but always with fairness and respect for both people and professionalism.”
Probably the most extraordinary deals of his career were done with Marotta as the representative of Pogba.
The midfielder left Manchester United as a free agent in 2012 and was sold back to the same club by Juventus just four years later for €105m, at the time a world transfer record.
This summer, Pogba looks set to leave Old Trafford for free yet again, reportedly even for another return to Juventus, which would simply add insult to injury for the Premier League side.
“The double Pogba operation, with the move from Manchester United to Juventus and Juve to United. It was a double masterpiece in which Raiola had a very important role,” added Marotta.
“The world of football loses a great professional, often critical of the system, but his criticism was always constructive to help football improve.”
Marotta: “Affranto e dispiaciuto per Raiola. Pogba operazione capolavoro. Il calcio perde un grande professionista” https://t.co/MbyLMB676t
— FcInterNews.it (@FcInterNewsit) April 30, 2022