Yesterday, at the Hotel Melia in Milan, the elective assembly of theItalian Association of Football Agents and Clubs for the election of the new Board of Directors. For the next three-year period 2024-2027 the Assembly has reconfirmed the following Board of Directors: Branchini Francesco, Busardò Paolo, Caliandro Francesco, Galli Giuseppe (President), Giuffrida Valerio, Moggi Alessandro (deputy vice-President), Pagliari Silvio, Pastorello Federico, Pino Letterio (national secretary), Rigitano Raffaele (vice-president), Tinti Tullio. The new Board of Directors then appointed Bruno Carpeggiani as Honorary President. Between the market and beyond, here are all the full statements from the protagonists to TMW’s microphones:
The words of Giuseppe Galli
“It’s an important day because we were re-elected in full, all those on the board, after an extraordinary job done and the members understood it. It’s nice, now we have to continue with more energy than before, hoping that even from above they understand that we need to talk of the critical issues of football”.
The desire to be involved in the choices made by football institutions?
“We would like them to understand our work, first of all. We need to keep us updated and have round tables, then if one day there will be the possibility of being involved, why not… We know football well because we are on the field. We would like to have a collaborative relationship because no one likes the ball to deflate, which is why I would like to have a collaboration with the clubs and managers. Then I will have a battle on the purchased powers: everyone talks about it but no one does anything 200-250 players, how can you have fair competition? We have to try to set some limits.”
Is there silence about this within your world?
“There is no silence, we have always denounced but there has never been an answer… I would be happy, in my third term, to wage this battle. As I have always said, we need to say names and surnames. For our part, there is no ‘it’s silence, on the other hand maybe yes…”.
Could there be the idea of putting a cap on player proxies for each agency?
“It’s not that, it’s a question of fairness which doesn’t exist. The players under contract shouldn’t even be contacted. It would be nice to sit down and create something constructive.”
Could the Diarra ruling change the market?
“I’m not a lawyer, I don’t like talking nonsense about what I don’t know.”
The words of Letterio Pino
“Is the FIFA regulation on agents frozen? We asked several times to be able to sit at the table, but we were denied this possibility. Now the courts have said that the regulation is unfair, let’s see how everything will evolve.”
The Diarra sentence?
“I don’t believe that in the end a company that has supported the cost of a card, putting the amount in the balance sheet as depreciation, can suddenly lose ownership and privilege. The evolution in my opinion will be the Spanish model with exit clauses of the players. We must also take into account the counterparts, we defend the players but I think it is not fair towards the clubs. In the end a balance will be found capable of satisfying everyone “.
How is Icardi at Galatasaray?
“He’s very well, I think you can see it from the statistics. He’s scored a lot, made assists, he’s loved by the fans and he loves Galatasaray. There were sirens but he never wanted to listen to them.”
The arrival of Osimhen?
“The funny thing is that Okan Buruk called him and told him there was this possibility and Mauro said to take him immediately. They get along very well, champions can coexist.”
Possible return to Serie A in the future?
“Nothing is impossible, he loves Italy so who knows in the future. However, it is difficult to give up the love of an entire nation because he is also well-liked by the fans of the other teams.”
The words of Tullio Tinti
“The agents who are often seen as the bad guys of football? I speak for myself… I have relationships with everyone and I try to be correct, clearly looking after the interests of my boys in a serious way.”
Can the Diarra case revolutionize the market?
“It’s still too early to make a judgement, it’s certainly something that could create or solve problems. Today, however, the matter is not very clear.”
Gabbia protagonist of a great start to the season. Can the renewal with Milan also arrive?
“He has made the leap in the last two seasons, he is aware of his abilities. He is a fantastic boy and an important player, he has earned everything on his own. He started from the back but earned his place through performances. Soon we will talk, they called me and we will discuss it shortly. He is super happy, he has worn the Milan shirt since he was a child and therefore he is happy to be able to renew and to have this consideration from the management. Then it is clear that we need to discuss it.”
Is he also ready for higher responsibilities such as the national team and the captaincy of Milan?
“He is ready for these things, he is a top guy, he has culture, he is the first to arrive on the pitch… So he would be ready.”
Colpani experienced a more complicated start to the season than expected…
“He left when he wasn’t in good shape, when he arrived in Florence he hadn’t started training yet. Now he’s recovering, he’s done well in the last two matches. He has the right talent to play at that level and even more.”
Raspadori linked to Juventus?
“Giacomo is doing well in Naples, certainly. The sporting director is the former Napoli player, it’s normal that he has great respect for Giacomo. But these are all premature things.”
How is Scalvini’s recovery progressing?
“From a physical point of view he’s doing very well, he’s ahead of schedule. Today, however, we need to be patient, one day more is better than one day less. Morally and mentally he’s super positive. I’ve been lucky, I’ve always had guys top among my clients.”
Sticks leaders of Inter and the national team?
“He’s a champion… He doesn’t need any introduction. He’s a super Inter fan and he’s doing great there, he’s happy and there’s no problem today. The problem of leaving Inter doesn’t exist, we have renewed a year and a half ago and he is very happy, he can also win at European level because Inter is a very competitive team. And the same goes for the national team.”
The words of Federico Pastorello
“This is an association that does many things. From the outside you often have no idea, but we members of the board of directors are doing a good job and we are convinced of the goodness of what we have done. We are doing our utmost to guarantee the category a peaceful future by ceasing to be labeled as the evil of football.”
Would you also like to be represented in the football federation?
“It’s one of the battles, that of having a place in the Federation. We would like to be involved in legislating our activities, because often those who make the rules don’t know our job well.”
Will the Diarra ruling have the same effects as the Bosman ruling?
“It’s too early to say anything, FIFA’s reactions will also have to be understood. It creates an important precedent, perhaps not like Bosman’s but it will force FIFA to take a stand because whatever happens, things will change. I’m curious to see how football will respond.”
Lukaku immediately decisive in Conte’s Napoli?
“The story is clear: they are two people who interpret the job in the same way, with commitment, professionalism, sacrifice. And then the type of game, Romelu is perfect in this. They started very well, the journey is long and at the end of the season we will shoot the sums”.
Meanwhile, Lukaku has decided not to respond to Belgium’s call to stay and train in Naples…
“The players are playing too many games, these continuous injuries are not the result of chance or bad luck. There are already 9 injuries to the crusaders, last year there were 11 in the whole year. The boys are stressed too much, the performances are more demanding from the point of view of physical effort. There we will need to do something, there will be choices to be made and it is right that politics does its duty by putting athletes in a position to express their talent in the right way , to train but also to rest”:
Where are we with Meret’s renewal with Napoli?
“We have contacts, even before the break. Alex is very happy with the season, he has been in Naples for 5 years and is very happy with it. I don’t rule out the possibility of reaching an agreement, but there is a negotiation to be done. It is important that the parties are in contact.”
Was Arthur close to Napoli in the summer?
“They have never asked me sincerely. We have to find a solution, it is a mortal sin to see a player of his quality not used. Unfortunately he is not part of Juventus’ plans again, although in my opinion he could have given something different also in light of the new system We accept and respect the decision made by the club but in January we will find a new arrangement.”
Have there been any contacts with De Zerbi’s OM?
“There has been some discussion, he is a type of footballer that De Zerbi might be interested in. Let’s see, there was a problem with non-EU citizens and it wasn’t very simple, we’ll see in January.”
Acerbi and De Vrij, how is the situation with Inter?
“It’s still very early, but there are clauses that sanction the end or continuity of the relationship. Our duty is to keep our eyes open, in the event that the club decides not to keep the boys, we will need to find an adequate solution, but both would be happy to stay.”