Transfer market could be turned on its head by FIFA

Chief football governing body FIFA could be set to change the transfer landscape next year after the organization has set its sights on reducing the massive influence that super agents have garnered in recent years.

In a report by Spanish outlet MARCA, FIFA is planning a summer offensive with new legislation that could stop agent-influenced free transfers as record numbers of the sports top players are seeking free moves.

Should it be put into place, the new law(s) would scupper the network of super agents and family representatives that seek massive sums for commissions that come their way when clients seek greener pastures through free transfer moves. An excerpt from MARCA explains further;

“It is, broadly speaking, to prevent agents, lawyers, family members or whoever acts as the athlete’s representative from charging millionaire amounts for transfers. There is already a draft on the new rule that is sufficiently clear about its spirit and, although it still remains to be drafted in a definitive way, the great agents, with Erling Haaland’s at the head, Mino Raiola, have formed a common front because they consider its legality more than doubtful based on community law and it is more than likely that they will file a class action lawsuit if it enters into force.”

It continues;

“With the new rule it would be like this, since the agent could only charge 3% of the player’s salary, which would be borne by the footballer himself, and another 3% that would be paid by the buying club. The other option, which forces you to discard the first two and which in this case would be much more advantageous, is to charge 10% of the transfer from the selling club. Therefore,the agent can only benefit from one of these two options. If, in addition, you take a player to a club and charge 6%, you cannot collect the commission from the same club during the next two transfer markets if you decide to sell the player.”

For super agents the likes of Mino Raiola, Jorge Mendes, Pini Zahavi, and Kia Joorabchian, should the new rule be put into action next summer, it would be a hammer blow to the financial stranglehold they so often possess over clubs if they are in negotiations with any of their clients. That list reads like a whose-who of the footballing elite across the globe and includes stars the likes of Erling Haaland, Matthijs de Ligt, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Paul Pogba, Marco Verratti, Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, João Cancelo, Ederson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, and Philippe Coutinho.

The inability for agents to charge millions on top of the fees and wages their clients receive could singlehandedly change the transfer landscape moving forward.

Race for Haaland heats up

The timing of the proposed changes by FIFA could not have been more timely after Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian star striker Erling Haaland looks set to leave the Ruhr valley in the summer, with Europe’s elite maneuvering to go toe-to-toe for his services.

Bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are both keen on the Dortmund hitman, while Bayern Munich has not ruled out their own interest in him should current star striker Robert Lewandowski leave the Allianz Arena in the summer.

Manchester United also maintains an interest in the former RB Salzburg standout, with recent reports claiming that the Red Devils are currently the only serious bidder for the Leeds-born goal machine.

Madrid maintains the hope that Haaland will team up with Kylian Mbappé in what would be a mouthwatering attacking duo, but Barcelona, Bayern, and United all still present top destinations for the Norwegian as well. Should he opt for staying in familiar surroundings, plying his trade at Bayern – in a league he knows well – while still being at a top-four club in the world guaranteed to offer Champions League football while being the leading man, could also be a worthwhile venture.

This is one transfer saga that is sure to heat up and quickly.