Mino Raiola, one of the most powerful agents in football, has died at the age of 54. He represented players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland.

Raiola’s family issued the following statement on his Twitter account:

“In infinite sorrow we share the passing of the most caring and amazing football agent that ever was.

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“Mino fought until the end with the same strength he put on negotiation tables to defend our players.

“As usual, Mino made us proud and never realised it.

“Mino touched so many lives through his work and wrote a new chapter in the history of modern football.

“His presence will forever be missed. Mino’s mission of making football a better place for players will continue with the same passion.

“We thank everybody for the huge amount of support received during these difficult times and ask for respect to the privacy of family and friends in this moment of grief.”

In January, Raiola’s account tweeted that he was receiving “routine” medical examinations and had not required “emergency intervention.”

Raiola’s family confirmed his death two days after false allegations of his death circulated.

The chief of the anaesthetic and intensive care unit at San Raffaele hospital in Milan, where Raiola was being treated, Alberto Zangrillo, said:

“I am outraged by the phone calls from pseudo-journalists who speculate on the life of a man who is fighting.”

In the 1990s, Raiola rose to popularity in the Netherlands and Italy, where he was instrumental in the transfers of Dennis Bergkamp and Pavel Nedved to Serie A.

Raiola most recently assisted with the transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United, as well as Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund.