Super agent unsure about Club World Cup: ‘Genius and detrimental’ | OneFootball

Rafaela Pimenta, agent of several football stars, including Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Santiago Gimenez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, believes the upcoming Club World Cup is a ‘brilliant idea’ for FIFA but warns that ‘injuries will increase exponentially.’

Pimenta spoke to Tuttosport about the state of football worldwide, focusing on the Club World Cup as well.

Inter and Juventus will be the Serie A clubs involved in the competition that will be played from mid-June to mid-July later this year.

“It’s a brilliant idea from FIFA’s point of view, truly genius. Fans are always hungry for football and the Club World Cup will be played at a time when there is usually no football,” Pimenta said.

“Fans are always looking for something new. This competition brings together clubs that never face each other and creates matchups that until now could only happen in theory.

“At the same time, however, it’s detrimental for players who are not machines and are put at a high risk of injuries,” she continued.

“At the end of the season, they have international duties and then just a few days of holidays before the Club World Cup begins. I think it’s too much, and the injuries will increase exponentially. FIFA must realise that players are not machines but human beings.”

The powerful agent also spoke about how the transfer market has changed in recent years.

“Amost everything has changed since COVID. Planning is much more important, and there is more responsibility for financial management,” she noted.

“It’s increasingly common to hear executives say: ‘No, I can’t afford this deal.’ I think it’s completely right and positive because there should never be a system of constant overbidding.”