Football agents - Evil behind scenes?

Wenger is said to be furious Song's agent is actively looking to move the player out of Arsenal, and wants to meet with the Cameroon international to discuss the future on a one-on-one basis.

El Shaarawy wrote:Mino Raiola must be sitting on an island of gold right about now

terrance511 wrote:"But, in this moment, the people who surround them try to make them rich before they start their career."

dostoevsky wrote:The point he raises concerning the tendency of young players to feel that they deserve immense contracts before truly proving a thing has merit though.

rwo power wrote:The problem is more that the agent gets the fee from the club, too. He should get paid solely by the player as the player is the person who benefits from the agents' services. AFAIK the ECA is currently discussing that problem, and they ponder what they can do about it.

reuters.com wrote:Players are losing out financially due to excessive fees paid to agents and football must address this, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said.

"Most clubs pay to the limit when they buy a player and so wherever this money goes it will still be the case of paying to the limit," Gazidis told a news conference following a meeting of the European Club Association (ECA), the organisation which represents European football clubs, to discuss the current transfer system.

"If I was a player or a players' union this would concern me. Players should make more money as the money paid to the agents should be going to them.

"There is a lot of money given to agents and it is in our interests to change this."

Gazidis said it was not a case of "trying to evade responsibility".

"I know we are involved in agreeing to pay these amounts," he said. "There are a lot of complications though as you are often dealing with cross-jurisdictions and agents have a role."

A study published by the ECA in a two-year period from 2011 to 2013 showed agents' commissions totalled $254 million - 14.6 percent of the value of the 865 transfers which took place involving European clubs.

"We know there is a problem and that there needs to be new regulations dealing with intermediaries. These are the numbers that we have found and it is for everyone to make their own conclusions," said AC Milan director and ECA vice-chairman Umberto Gandini.

The report did find that the present transfer system allows for free movement of players.

"We can see that the transfer system is working for the reasons that it was set up," said Gandini.

"The Bosman ruling applies as out of contract players are allowed to leave without any restrictions. The thing is that players' unions always want more and more and more. In general terms though the system is working."

worldfootballinsider.com wrote:Financial controls in European football will soon extend to regulation of agents under plans being drafted by the European Club Association.

Coverage of the ECA's press conference at Soccerex in Manchester this week was dominated by headlines focusing on it winning concessions from UEFA on new financial fair play rules.

But Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the ECA chairman, also revealed that two other proposals designed to cut club costs had received the backing of the 93 clubs from 53 UEFA member associations who attended the organisation's general assembly in Manchester. These are squad size capping and slashing agents' fees.

The ECA wants to introduce a squad cap of 25 players at national and European level but with unlimited use of U-21 players.

Noting the financial burden of agents on clubs, Rummenigge said the ECA was talking with stakeholders, including the European Football Agents Association, to bring in regulation.

Manchester United CEO David Gill, an ECA board member, said: "I think we are going to see some interesting developments in this area in the course of the next 12 months.

"All clubs endorse that change is required and therefore I think it will happen."

The ECA said 70% of all deals do not involve licensed agents. The lack of proper regulation has led to soaring fees and means clubs can be forced to foot huge bills to seal transfer deals.

Gill added: "We are moving to a much more simplified system which will hopefully bring greater control."

The details must still be worked out, but Gill said detailed contracts would likely be drawn up under an intermediary system that would "put the onus on clubs and players to manage their affairs".

Swanhends wrote:Agents are lawyers what do you expect lol

Although tbh its even worse in Europe than in the U.S because we have salary caps and no transfer fees here

Goal.com wrote:Paul Pogba has agreed to stay at Juventus in the long term, according to his agent, despite insisting he could sell him to the likes of  Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea 'in a heartbeat'.

The 21-year-old has once again been in inspired form for reigning Italian champions Juve and had been linked with a €100 million move away from Serie A this summer.

Pogba has a long-term contract with the defending Serie A champions, which does not expire until June 2019, and Raiola says he intends to stick it out.

"We made a pact with Juve: Paul doesn't have to leave," representative Mino Raiola told Tuttosport.

"I spoke to president Andrea Agnelli, directors Pavel Nedved, Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici, so they all agree. The club doesn't need the money.

"He is wanted by seven clubs and that is certain, because they all told me so.

"The ones that can afford him are Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

"If I just whistled, I could sell Pogba tomorrow to PSG or City in a heartbeat. But Paul did not tell me to find him another club.

"What are his chances of staying? As of today it's 99 per cent.

"Juve agree with our approach, which is that they will only sell if Paul asks to leave and there's a suitable offer. Of course, it could become one per cent, it depends on the market."

Raiola also admitted that he negotiated with Madrid a year and a half ago.

"Real wanted him 18 months ago, but I didn't like the attitude Madrid had with me.

"Juve asked for about €50 million and Real told me it was a ridiculous sum. Even Carlo Ancelotti told me that and he adores Pogba.

"I don't have to sell him, though. I advised Paul to only leave Juve if he finds a club that desperately wants him. Right now it's easier to remain in Turin than to leave. Juve are the side with the advantage."