Two incredible XIs made up of players owned by super-agents Mino Raiola and Jorge Mendes.
The murky world of football agents is filled with unsavoury characters and wealthy businessmen, but no two are quite as unsavoury or wealthy as global super-agents Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola.
Both have built reputations as ruthless, savvy businessmen, and both have assembled quite incredible stables of players. But if both had to select an XI from players signed to their agencies, which would win the ultimate “super-agent” prize?
Which team do you think is stronger?
SEE MORE:
Zidane Madrid – Future manager told to go back to school.
Van Gaal Sketch – Manchester United manager mocked on TV.
Keane Autobiography – Tesco offer free prawn sandwich with Keane book purchase.
Mino Raiola XI
Raiola has made his career mainly in Italy and Holland, but now has superstars playing all over the world.
Forwards:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Romelu Lukaku -Mario Balotelli
Now that’s some SERIOUS firepower. The explosive mixture of Ibra and Balotelli could lose and many games as it wins, but either way its going to cause trouble. The physical presence of the three alone will cause problems for any defender.Midfielders:
Paul Pogba – Blaise Matuidi – Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Pogba and Matuidi provide a hyper-athletic midfield base with plenty of quality too. Mkhitaryan can operate further forward, supplying passes to the terrifying front line.Defenders:
Ignazio Abate – Bartosz Salamon – Rodrigo Ely – Maxwell
While both full-backs are experienced professionals, the centre-backs are the real weakness of Raiola’s teams. Both are talented and young, but will have a hard time against Mendes’ forwards.Goalkeeper:
Sergio Romero
The Argentina keeper is a solid choice in goal. argetnia Jorge Mendes XI
Mendes’ Gestifute is the largest agency in football, and this summer alone negotiated massive deals for Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Forwards:
Cristiano Ronaldo – Diego Costa – Radamel Falcao
Wow. You thought Raiola’s front line was scary? These three will eviscerate anything put in front of them with pace, power and ruthless finishing.Midfielders:
James Rodriguez – Angel Di Maria – William Carvalho
A ridiculously taltented midfield, William Carvalho will have his work cut out battling Matuidi and Pogba for the ball.Defenders:
Mangala – Thiago Silva – Pepe – Coentrao
A very strong back four, even with Mangala out of position at right-back.Goalkeeper:
Anderson
Mendes’ predilection for attacking players has left his team with a fatal flaw: no goalkeeper. Since Henrique Hilario hung up his boots, Mendes has had no keepers on his books. Anderson, on the basis that he is the largest player available, will have to give it a go.Verdict:
Mino Raiola XI: 14 – 10 Jorge Mendes XI
Both teams have goals in them, to say the least. While Raiola’s defence is weak, he has a good goalkeeper and a solid midfield to protect his shaky back four. Mendes’ attacking power will keep him in the game, but eventually not having a real keeper will come back to haunt him, as Ibra and Pogba rain shots down on the beleaguered Brazilian.