“Nobody took players away”- Corriere.it

The question if everyone in the world of football asks: what happens to the empire of Mino Raiola? Who’s in charge now that Mino is gone? Who is in charge of the super stable of champions? One thing for sure: a lot has changed since Mino’s death on April 30, 2022, almost a year ago. His empire, built over his lifetime with sacrifices and foresight, has undergone important changes, in terms of leadership and beyond. Today, Rafaela Pimienta, the Brazilian lawyer who was Raiola’s right arm for over twenty years, plays a fundamental role as guide. Raiola’s legacy was collected above all by her. It was she herself who clarified the situation during an interview with Foot Market.

Mino and I had been partners for years. Of course we played the game where Mino did the “one man show” and pitched himself. But come to think of it, impossible for a human being to do all this alone. Even though Mino worked all the time, he told Pimenta to FM. During Mino’s funeral, a player calls me asking what we are doing since Mino is gone. The player being transferred, I have to give him a quick answer. And then I said to myself “Here is the answer given. The players are there, I am and we have to do it.” We go to the summer transfer market, as always with all our energy and commitment and we have done what we had to do, which is to take care of our customers. And at the end of the September market, I said to myself, I’ll continue. After the loss of a fundamental person for the company like Mino, I had to immediately think about the renovation.

Pimenta also spoke of the organization of Mino’s empire: It would have been irresponsible and arrogant of me to think I could do things myself. Because I didn’t do things alone, I did them with Mino. But he is gone, so we had to find an organization so that those who trusted me during the transfer market would not regret their choice and continue with me. I made these choices with Mino’s son, Mario. Together, we’ve talked a lot about where we’re going and what we’re going to do.

And on the relationship with Vincenzo, Mino’s cousin, who has chosen an individual path since December
: There is no conflict between him and me. Vincenzo and I talked to each other. I always told him that it made me happy to work with him. But it’s hard for me to please everyone. I try to do it as much as possible to the limits of what I can do. There is one main mission in this company – to manage the players. I take it as a big responsibility and not child’s play. We earn and it’s normal, because it’s work, but above all it’s a responsibility. So yes, it’s not easy to please everyone. therefore very understandable to see Vincenzo want to go his own way since Decemberand entirely acceptable. But Vincenzo didn’t start with players from the club, that’s not true, there’s a small inaccuracy. Bennacer? He has never been in our society. So, he didn’t take anything away from us since it wasn’t within our facility.

Finally, on Haaland (a close friend of Enzo), Pimenta clarified: Players are not objects to me. I have nothing, they are my clients. Erling Haaland, it doesn’t belong to me. a client of mine has given me his trust, I have to earn it every day, I have to be honest and discreet in everything that concerns his life and his situation. I think it’s bad taste to make yourself a list of players as if it were a shopping list. This is the way I want to change society.

In the last few days, in fact, the rumors that the team of players can be divided have intensified. Some players could thus decide to go with Vincenzo, others to stay with Pimenta, who should continue to lead the agency with the former Inter full-back, Maxwell, and with the support of historical and leading faces of the group such as Pogba and Ibrahimovic. Players like Bennacer (Milan), Mavididi (Montpellier) or Fares (Lazio) will go with Vincenzo.