During an interview with BBC News, super agent Jorge Mendes said he believes if Real Madrid were to decide to sell Cristiano Ronaldo, today, for £300 million, there would be clubs willing to pay the fee.
Mendes also reiterated that although Ronaldo has great affection for Manchester United and its supporters, he believes the reigning Ballon d’Or winner will finish his career with Real Madrid.
The Portuguese football agent is reported to have brokered more than £1 billion worth of transfers and is renown as the most powerful figure in the sports world. His client list includes: Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Pepe, Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, David de Gea and Diego Costa – to name a few.
During the interview – conducted by the BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan – the former DJ and nightclub owner compared his relationship with his clients to that of a “family”. He says he is always there for his players to give advice and to support them.
Mendes also said that television contracts will continue to rise, as well as player wages, and dismissed plans to ban third-party ownership of players.
In the past, the agent has been accused of corruption, breaching FIFA regulations regarding third-party ownership, of having excessive influence in club affairs (most notably in Portugal) and for conflicts of interest in player representation.
In 2004, Mendes brokered Jose Mourinho’s move from FC Porto to Chelsea, despite the manager already having an agent (who had lined up a move to Liverpool for the Portuguese tactician). It was at this point where Mendes’ importance was established and the agent began reshaping the business of transfer deals in football.
