THE world of football was left heartbroken and shocked in April 2022 when super-agent Mino Raiola died at the age of 54.
But Rafaela Pimenta, branded “the most powerful woman in football” stepped up and took over from Mino Raiola. Here’s everything you need to know about the new heiress.
Who is Rafaela Pimenta?
Brazilian lawyer Pimenta is set to make a huge impact in the world of football.
She studied jurisprudence at the University of Sao Paulo before going on to work in the antitrust division of the Brazilian Government.
Pimenta has also been a partner of Raiola’s agency for 18 years – and is believed to have had an instrumental role in some of the world’s biggest football transfers.
She first met Raiola over two decades ago – at a charity match organised by Brazilian footballers Rivaldo and Cesar Sampaio.
After the pair instantly hit it off, Raiola invited Pimenta to come and work with him, so she moved to Monaco, where the One agency is based.
Although Raiola is succeeded by two sons Mario and Gabrielle, after his death his agency was entrusted to Rafaela, who now works with some of the world’s biggest football stars.
Who does Rafaela Pimenta represent?
With the help of Mario and Gabrielle, Pimenta is representing some of the biggest talents in football, including Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Blaise Matuidi.
Other world class names include Marco Verratti, Mario Balotelli, Moise Kean, Alphonse Areola, Alessio Romagnoli, Adnan Januzaj and Noussair Mazraoui.
And she has certainly had a busy start to the post-Raiola era – after she negotiated the finer details of Haaland’s £51.2 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City.
Pimenta is particularly close with Juventus midfielder Pogba and appears in the Manchester United player’s 2022 Amazon Prime documentary, The Pogmentary.
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Pogba introduces his agent to his children as “Auntie Rafa” – showing that they share a close bond both in and out of work.
What is Rafaela Pimenta’s net worth?
Pimenta’s exact net worth is unknown.
However, after she became the heiress to Mino Raiola’s empire, you can expect it to be an eye-watering amount.
Raiola left behind a portfolio of players for a value greater than €1billion in market value.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk