Erling Haaland’s agent has said that his star client is now the most valuable player in the world, stating that he is now worth a whopping €1 billion.
The transfer window slammed shut on 31 January and, obviously, there was no chance of Haaland leaving the Etihad, but the 22-year-old superstar’s agent has still been talking about her client and what she deems to be his current market value.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with sporting outlet AS, Brazilian agent Rafaela Pimenta was talking about how she took over managing the City striker as a client after former representative and renowned football agent, Mino Raiola, passed away in April of 2022.
Discussing everything from the power balance between player and agent to Haaland’s personality and how social media can help be a gift or a curse, the 50-year-old was eventually asked how much she thinks he is worth today. She already had the extraordinary figure in her head back in October.
"Erling Haaland could be the first £1bn player!" 🤯
Doubling down on the statement on Wednesday, 1 February, she told AS‘ Marco Ruiz: “For me, Haaland is worth 1,000 million [roughly £895 million]. Maybe nobody is going to pay that, but it is the potential that he has when he arrives at a club.”
Contextualising the number, she noted that Paul Pogba was valued at “£80 million and everyone said… It’s incredible! Today many are worth it. The top is at Neymar’s €222m… The numbers change.”
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Pimenta worked alongside Raiola for more than 20 years, helping engineer deals like Pogba’s return to Manchester United for a then-world record fee. She has since inherited his football agency empire, representing the likes of Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Erling Haaland and more.
She went on to insist that with a player like Haaland, you’re not just getting his performances on the pitch: you’re paying for the full package and that’s why she feels he should be valued so highly.
“With him comes fans, goals, sports results, professionalism, digital content, notoriety, sponsors… If you put all this together, his value is an aggregate of many things. But the price of a footballer is actually set by a club.”
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She went on to admit that while she believes “nobody is going to pay 700 million for a player”, she stands behind her statement that “the value Erling adds when he arrives at a club is immense, at least 1,000 million.”
Haaland is already said to be on nearly £900k a week thanks to his current deal — we don’t even want to think of what his compensation would look like if the numbers ever get that ridiculous.
With City’s number nine on course to break all manner of records, especially with those in blue around him giving him plenty of service and a platform to shine even brighter on the world stage, we really couldn’t put a number on how much Haaland is worth… but a billion!?
Elsewhere in the interview, Pimenta refused to confirm whether her client has a release clause in his contract, simply replying: “I’m not saying anything.” This comes after manager Pep Guardiola insisted no such clause exists at present.
She was also probed as to whether she expects Haaland to play in Spain one day, with Real Madrid mentioned specifically; all she would say is that “today he is very happy at City. Tomorrow, we’ll have to think about it”.
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How long do you see Erling Haaland staying at City for?
Ben Foster reveals he’s being paid ‘literally peanuts’ to play for Wrexham AFC
Danny Jones
We refuse to believe any UK football fan didn’t let out a little smile upon hearing the news that Ben Foster came out of retirement to re-sign for Wrexham AFC nearly 20 years on from his first spell.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper called time on his playing days at the end of last season after slowly moving towards becoming a squad player-come-YouTuber over the past few years and having already enjoyed a long and successful career.
However, following a nudge from the coach and celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, he was convinced to lace up his boots once more and the former United, Stoke, West Brom and Watford man will now be playing between the sticks at the Racecourse Ground until the end of the season.
To make things even more wholesome, the Premier League veteran has confessed that transfer talks didn’t last long, confessing on his YouTube and Spotify show, the Fozcast: “To be honest, the negotiations took about five minutes”, adding that he’s been paid “literally peanuts”.
Ben Foster: “I don’t need much [money] – to be honest, the negotiations took about five minutes… Wages wise, it’s literally peanuts… the part for me is getting the team over the line and getting them promoted.” #WxmAFCpic.twitter.com/Ke5vPdT1UK
— RobRyanRed – Wrexham AFC Podcast (@RobRyanRed) March 23, 2023
Nevertheless, Foster admitted that he doesn’t need much money after such a great career up and down the football pyramid and while “things changed a lot since [he] was last here”, he said, “it’s nice to be back” and labelled manager Phil Parkinson “top class”.
Parkinson, an EFL journeyman himself, had similarly complimentary words for the seasoned keeper, stating: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the club. With Rob Lainton getting injured at the weekend, it was important we had all bases covered going into the last part of the season, which this signing ensures.”
The ex-England international first played for Wrexham back in 2005 when he was loaned out by Stoke City and went on to win the EFL Trophy — his first-ever piece of silverware. Now he’s back to help them finally get out of the National League (currently three points clear at the top with a game in hand).
As for his expectations for the season, he said the goal is simple: “getting the team over the line and getting them promoted”, adding “I’m a very low-maintenance player. Just wheel me out, I’ll do a job.” Now that’s the kind of attitude we can get behind.
Speaking to talkSPORT after the sudden move, he revealed that the whole deal felt just as out of the blue for him too, detailing how he got a call from the manager after a bike ride one day and, before he knew it, he’d given them the thumbs up.
Shedding some light on his discussions with the Hollywood owners, he said that Reynolds “actually slid into [his] DMs” once the agreement had been confirmed, joking: “I’m buzzing I’ve got Ryan Reynolds in there, I ain’t even replied to him! I’ll leave him hanging for a bit!”
He went on to admit that he actually approached him first, messaging, “I used to play for Wrexham and if you’re ever available for a podcast I’d love you to come.” Thankfully, he finally responded, saying: “Mate, sorry I didn’t reply. I’ll definitely do the podcast with you, thank you for signing.”
That Deadpool episode is going to be a great watch… You can see him talking about the surprise transfer in full on his YouTube channel down below:
Inside Sports Direct’s new FIVE STOREY Manchester Arndale store, complete with gaming arena and sports challenges
Daisy Jackson
Sports Direct has opened its brand-new, high-tech store inside the Manchester Arndale today – and it’s seriously impressive.
The five-storey flagship shop for the sports retailer is packed with interactive features, from fitness challenges to a bra-fitting studio.
The high-tech space has gadgets that will do everything from accurately measuring your foot size to testing your strength.
There’s even a bank of gaming PCs and consoles on the top floor, as a Belong Gaming Arena opens within the new Sports Direct shop.
Here, gamers can buy a single pass or sign up for unlimited play time for £15 a month, grabbing drinks from a slushy machine and snacks from a shop area.
Sports Direct has taken over what was once the BHS department store within Manchester Arndale, a 50,000 sq ft site that’s been largely empty since 2016. It’s moved across from its previous unit just around the corner.
The display at the entrance. Credit: The Manc Group
Shoppers are immediately greeted by a DJ booth, a mirrored ceiling and rack after rack of sportswear.
Brands including Adidas, Nike and Puma are all stocked, as expected, alongside other Frasers Group brands like Jack Wills and USC.
Game has a huge presence up on the top floor, where shoppers can also get their clothing purchases customised.
Click or swipe through the gallery below to see more from Manchester’s new Sports Direct store
Sports Direct Manchester Arndale. Credit: The Manc GroupThe bra studio. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Belong Gaming Arena. Credit: The Manc GroupA wall of balls. Credit: The Manc GroupThe putting challenge. Credit: The Manc GroupDiving mannequins. Credit: The Manc GroupManchester City kits. Credit: The Manc GroupAnother challenge in Sports Direct Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupGame. Credit: The Manc GroupPS5s in Sports Direct Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSpecialist boxing clothing. Credit: The Manc GroupYou can get items customised in store. Credit: The Manc GroupHockey equipment. Credit: The Manc GroupA strength challenge. Credit: The Manc GroupJack Wills. Credit: The Manc GroupThe women’s floor. Credit: The Manc Group
There’s kit on sale for every sport from hiking to running to skateboarding to hockey to cycling to fishing to boxing to tennis to rugby to golf to swimming, plus a huge astroturfed area dedicated to football.
In the football zone, you can try on a massive range of football boots while sitting in dugout-inspired seats, with rival mannequins dressed in City and United kits propped up on rotating plinths.
It’s not just about the shopping in here either. Sports Direct has brought a whole load of interactive games and challenges to Manchester.
You can test your golf skills at a Putting Challenge, flex your footwork at a miniature sit-down football pitch, and show off your upper body strength by doing dead hangs from a bar for as long as possible.
The bra studio features a unique multi-brand bra finder tool, which can suggest the right size and shape for your sport, whatever brand you go for.
Sports Direct’s Chief Executive Michael Murray said: “Manchester is a significant location for the group, and we’re excited to be opening our next flagship in the city.”
The huge new Sports Direct store in the Manchester Arndale is open now.
Danny Jones -
2nd February 2023 
