Matheus Nunes transferred to Wolverhampton: Jorge Mendes, when the agent builds his own team

A few years ago, Jorge Mendes was the agent for some of the most influential players and coaches in the world. Quickly he had diversified its activities extending its influence to entire clubs. Now, the powerful businessman can also get his hands on entire teams and, still, juicy commissions. Sunday, as part of the third day of the Premier League, Wolverhampton should thus face Tottenham with an eleven almost exclusively built by the Portuguese.

Mendes’ influence on Wolves it’s nothing new. In 2016, the agent had taken advantage of his network in England to facilitate the takeover of the club by Fosun, with which he had already built very close ties… so much so that several British authorities – the EFL and the Premier League – had tried to raise conflicts of interest, after Football Leaks revelations relating that one of the leaders of the Chinese investment fund owned shares in the capital of Gestifute, the company of the Portuguese agent… In vain .

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The outcry over, the one who manages the career of Cristiano Ronaldo was able to root his activity in the West Midlands, in a much deeper way than in other clubs where his power was temporary or limited (Monaco, the Atlético and even Valencia). In Wolverhampton, every six months, Jorge Mendes buys and sells to his hand, sometimes representing the player, sometimes the club, sometimes both.

Nunes left as fast as Mendes arrived

This summer, after the arrival of Matheus Nunes from Sporting for 50 million euros, Wolverhampton have increased their spending to almost 124 million euros. Including a hundred generated by transfers of players represented by Mendes. The Sporting midfielder, author of an excellent season in Lisbon, was exclusively represented by the Brazilian company TFM a few weeks ago. But the Portuguese agent quickly felt the blow and obtained a mandate to carry out the most expensive transfer in Wolves history. Just after securing the arrival of Gonçalo Guedes for 33 million euros plus bonuses.

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Remember, in passing, that according to international regulations, an agent can puncture up to 10% of a transfer fee if he is mandated by the selling club and 3% of the player’s salary. In the case of Nunes, it is difficult to know what sum will fall into the coffers of the Gestifute, since Mendes represented… the three camps. FIFA is also seeking to better supervise these commissions in order to put an end to the “triple hats” that make the business of the powerful businessman born in Lisbon, and others.

Nine of the ten biggest transfers to Wolverhampton

Just a year ago, Correio da Manha revealed that the (record) transfer of Fabio Silva, a young striker from FC Porto sent to England, had aroused the curiosity of the Portuguese authorities. 5 million euros – out of the 40 of the total amount – had been dissipated in obscure commissions. In its public report, the club assured that it had paid the Gestifute up to 7 million euros.

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Since then, the Portuguese striker has been sent on loan to Belgium but he has therefore been replaced by another member of the Mendes team. Saturday, in Wolves’ draw at Fulham, twelve of the fourteen players used by Bruno Lage were transferred by Jorge Mendes. And of the ten most expensive transactions made by the English club, nine were the work of the Portuguese agent. For a sum approaching 300 million euros.

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