Why are Agents Essential to Football?

As much as the media portrays agents as devils behind transfer negotiations, players can't afford to be without them. Since highly coveted players face contract uncertainties at their clubs while sparking a bidding war among other clubs, it should be understandable why footballers seek agency services to deal with off-field matters.

Football agents act as legal representatives for players as well as coaches, with their primary responsibility involving negotiating employment and endorsement contracts for their clients. They're expected to maintain a fiduciary relationship with clients, navigating the options and coming up with the best possible alternatives.

As the years went by, agents' duties have expanded towards being a therapist and at times, a pseudo-parent. Their guidance ensures that players are on the right track as numerous youngsters are thrust into a world with a lot of money whilst having minimal life experiences.

Although agents are aplenty in football, the best players are often represented by super agents, two of them being Mino Raiola and Jorge Mendes.

Raiola, whose clients involve stars like Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is infamous for stirring up controversies and pocketing massive sums while brokering transfer deals. Despite his bad reputation, however, his clients seem to trust him massively. That is because players will always look to secure themselves financially in the future by earning as much as possible during their playing careers. Hiring an agent with sound expertise on the market rate of fee structures and salaries, and a proven track record of success ensures that finances will be the least of the players' worries. 

Unlike Raiola, Jorge Mendes didn't garner a bad reputation in the media, largely due to his less outspoken nature. The Portuguese, who represents Cristiano Ronaldo, has negotiated contracts worth over a billion dollars in total, making him the wealthiest football agent in the world.

Football contracts are very tricky to work out. Expecting a young footballer to interpret contractual law along with its consequences seems irrational. An agent's involvement can necessitate that players won't be exploited during contract negotiations while ensuring that a player's focus remains solely on football. Although some agents are notorious for linking players with clubs in a bid to land a higher pay package for clients, it's not that commonplace in the top leagues.

With a rise in salaries and transfer fees in football, an agent's influence will only grow. Agents act under the guidelines of FIFA and its corresponding authorities. Relieving them of their duties would certainly lead to many murky and shady dealings.

As the majority of players arrive from humble beginnings, a lack of counsel would leave them horribly exposed to legal and financial affairs. Whilst it's true that agents partake in unethical activities at times, their involvement is necessary for maintaining a plain-sailing operation in complex football deals.

Syed Md. Rakeen believes that Manchester United will get silverware this season. Prove him wrong at facebook.com/rafsan.isnayeen