De Bruyne

Apparently didn’t use an agent for his new city deal. He hired data analysts to determine how important he is to the City team and whether City were set up to achieve success over the next few years and to ensure that their ambition matched his own.

For me he’s one of the best players on the planet right now, if not the best. I just found it interesting the way he approached the negotiations.

City’s opening offer allegedly was for less than he’s on currently (but lasting until he’s 34) and he ended up with the same contract length but with a pay rise, as a result of his data and the case he put forward.

 

Good lad keep the 10 percent in his pocket

 

Really don't understand why more don't do that. Agents for something like modelling or acting I get.

 

Apparently a few Man U players Scholes, Gary and Phil Neville never involved agents either.

 

Playing devil's advocate, how does a bang average player, in a crowd of bang average players get themselves a new club without an agent?

A global superstar and a one club stalwart, I can perhaps see merit in your argument.

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-de-bruyne-uses-data-23870686

400 grand a week for the next four years to take him until 33 and done without an agent in sight. What a player and what a lad.

 

An agent doesn't make a player any better remember

 

Football scouts, isn't that their job?

 

A lot of the time it baffles me when you hear about these big name players been dictated to by agents.

They’re definitely needed though. Look at players like Helik & Anderson, are they going to be able to get their names out there & find clubs abroad on their own? I doubt it but for proven championship & premier league players I can’t imagine an agent is of that much use to them

 

Isn't the whole point of our system that we find the players though through stats and data? And how much do agents really help them get noticed?

 

I know he's a good player and all that, but FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS, every single week, for 4 years! That's £80 Million quid - on one player!

Isn't this all that's wrong with football at the moment...

 

I believe Raheem Sterling has binned his off too and basically hired a lawyer on a retainer when it comes to checking the contract. I think that's what I'd do if I was a top class footballer, chuff being dictated to the likes of Raiola or Mendes.

 

Nope. Lots of people at the top of their profession earn massive amounts of money and fair play to them.

 

Dane in an interview was saying that when we were looking for players abroad the players wanted to play in England but not for Barnsley. Now we are in the position where we are in he says he has had numerous phone calls from agents saying "we made a mistake"

Hopefully a good finish to the season will make us more attractive.

 

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City's Alex Mowatt!

 

I never had an agent and look where I am now.

 

Agents don't always act in players best interest, there is no code for them and largely unregulated. I recall a fly on the wall documentary on Blunts on transfer deadline. They wanted to sign a player, he wanted to come, agent told blunts they'd have to sign another of his players in order to get the deal over the line. They baulked at this and the deal never went through. Hardly in the first player's or the club's interests,
Also recall a tale told me by a ex-reds player. We refused to pay him a certain amount. His agent said I can get you that on a move. Started at new club and was paid by agent. Found out club were paying agent double. I can't help thinking the game would be better without them.

 

Me too, however only a small percentage of players are good enough to be able to do this. If I was a Joe Average foorballer I'd want an agent touting me to clubs and getting me the salary I think I deserve. I'd expect the agent to make commission on fees and I'd factor that in.

Go on holiday, use a travel agent. Buy a house use an estate agent.

 

I met Odejayi’s agent once. A right yardie. He ‘looked after’ Nile Ranger too. Would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall, during those negotiations..

 

Clubs can't approach an attached player directly. They have to go through the 'selling' club. If the stats tell you that 50 players meet the criteria of interest how do you determine which of those you should approach?

An agent would know if the player was interested in a move, what his salary expectations were, if the club would be amenable to an approach etc.

Speaking to an agent would soon reduce 50 to a manageable number.

I'm not a fan of agents, but I see the purpose they serve. That said they should be registered and regulated with a code of practice.