How did a pizza waiter from Haarlem become one of football's most influential figures? This is the story of Mino Raiola, the super-agent who transformed the football transfer market, and his successor, Rafaela Pimenta.In this episode, Simon and Mehreen explore the extraordinary career of Mino Raiola and his business partner, Rafaela Pimenta. From his early days working in his family's pizzeria to becoming the agent for stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, this is the tale of how an outsider revolutionised football's transfer market through wit, work ethic, and an uncanny ability to see where the game was heading.This episode reveals how Raiola's pizzeria mentality of personal service shaped his approach to representing players, his complex relationship with football's establishment, and how he built the most powerful agency in modern football.Time stamps:0:00: Introduction and background03:40: Early life in Haarlem and the family pizzeria08:22: Entry into football and first deals15:44: Meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic21:33: Partnership with Rafaela Pimenta27:16: Building the perfect agency34:55: The Pogba transfer saga42:18: Managing player careers and investments48:37: Battles with clubs and FIFA54:29: Legacy and influence on modern football59:13: Rafaela Pimenta takes the reins1:05:42: The future of football agencies1:11:27: Final thoughts on Raiola's impactFollow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices