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Raiola v Mendes - which super-agent has the best XI?

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Premier League
LaLiga
Serie A
Ligue 1

After Marco Verratti announced he will work with Raiola, Goal looks at how his elite clients compare to those of Mendes

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The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

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ExpressVPN

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
ExpressVPN

Pro

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Over 28 monthsSave 73%
ANALYSIS

Agents wield a huge influence in modern football. Much of the power has been taken away from the clubs and handed to the players as multi-million deals are brokered through transfers and new contracts.

And two of these so-called super agents are ahead of the rest. With numerous clients apiece, Mino Raiola and Jorge Mendes could build an entire squad and, once again, the Italian-born representative and the Portuguese are very much in the headlines this summer.

Bet on Real Madrid winning La Liga

But which of the two men has the better XI? Here, Goal takes a look at the pair's elite clients to find out...

RAIOLA'S BEST PLAYERS XI

Mino Raiola XI graphicGoal

Raiola has a new signing in Marco Verratti after the Italy midfielder announced last week that he will be working with the 49-year-old from now on, just in time to negotiate a lucrative contract at Paris Saint-Germain amid long-standing interest from Barcelona.

That means Raiola represents a midfield featuring Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan - one that could compete in the centre of the park with anything a top club side has to offer.

Mendy completes City move

Elsewhere, his clients include recent Manchester United arrival Romelu Lukaku, plus Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who was at Old Trafford last season and could yet earn a new deal for the Premier League side after he makes a full recovery. Nice forward Mario Balotelli is another alternative.

In goal, Raiola has Gianluigi Donnarumma, who almost left AC Milan earlier this summer after contract negotiations upset the club and its fans. Two more Milan players, Ignazio Abate and Rodrigo Ely (who spent last season at Alaves) are also on his books, along with Fenerbahce's Gregory van der Wiel and Roma's promising young left-back Luca Pellegrini.

MENDES' BEST PLAYERS XI

Jorge Mendes XIGoal

Mendes, meanwhile, now has just one player left at Real Madrid, but that man is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. Monaco's Radamel Falcao and Chelsea's Diego Costa are also represented by the Portuguese agent and, together, those three would make up an impressive attack.

James Rodriguez, now at Bayern Munich, would be the playmaker, with Paris Saint-Germain's Angel Di Maria, Barcelona's Andre Gomes and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva making up another formidable midfield.

The biggest transfers of the summer

David de Gea would start in goal, while Mendes could line up with Pepe (now at Besiktas), Monaco's talented right-back Fabinho and City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi in defence, with Valencia's Ezequiel Garay another alternative.

Overall, the Mendes' XI probably has the edge in defence, but these are two tremendous teams that would be the envy of many club sides. And although it will never happen, a Raiola XI against a Mendes XI would be some match.

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