Man Utd transfer boost by relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo agent Jorge Mendes

The return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United unfolded remarkably quickly in the final week of the transfer window with the move driven by the player's agent Jorge Mendes.

It was Mendes who drove interest from Manchester City in the player and ensured the Premier League champion's attention to the Portuguese superstar was leaked to prominent media outlets.

This was within the knowledge that City's interest would command their Manchester neighbours to act and the plan worked - with United moving swiftly to ensure it was the red half of the city that Ronaldo returned to.

It was a significant moment for the club not just in the sporting sense of Ronaldo's return but in the role of Mendes - who had no clients at United - in the move.

Cristiano Ronaldo has celebrated his successes throughout his career with long-term agent Jorge Mendes ( Image:

REUTERS)

Even though Mendes has a set list of clients through his Gestifute agency, he also plays a prominent role in multiple transfers of players who are not directly represented by him.

This was the case with the arrival of Bruno Fernandes at United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 - after the Positionumber agency failed to engineer a move for the playmaker to the Premier League.

Mendes makes moves happen and he almost always collects a healthy profit into the bargain - it is never healthy for a club to rely too heavily on one agent and United will know to be wary of being too heavily influenced by anyone in this field.

Yet strong and respectful relationships with these agents can reap huge benefits - Manchester City strengthened with Mendes clients Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Joao Cancelo, and Ruben Dias, while Liverpool 's Fabinho and Diogo Jota are also under his representation.

The Portuguese has also been the key player in Wolves transfers in recent years with managers Bruno Lage, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho also in his portfolio.

Much has been made over the future of Paul Pogba, who is represented by the controversial and oft-outspoken Mino Raiola - perhaps the most prominent football agent outside of Mendes - and whilst both sides are wary of each other, an open dialogue and maintaining relations is important.

When discussing Ronaldo's exit from Sporting in 2003 to United, Mendes revealed that a host of leading European clubs wanted to sign the winger but Sir Alex Ferguson was key in securing his switch to United.

Mendes said in 2015: "Thank God Sir Alex Ferguson came.

"And he told me, 'Jorge, leave it with me. He will come now with me and he will play at least 50 per cent of the games, I promise you.' This was the key.'

"Always with me, believe me, trust me: nothing is impossible. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing is impossible, my friend."

Ferguson said of the Portuguese that he was 'the best agent I've ever dealt with' while Mendes lamented the change of management at Old Trafford when his clients Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria joined the club under Louis van Gaal.

Mendes said: "I miss Ferguson at Manchester United. With him and this squad the situation would be different."

Mendes was behind the deals that took Nani and Anderson to United in 2007, but he played a more conspicuous role in the signing of Bebe - another Portuguese export - three years later.

Under Ferguson and the chaotic opening years of Ed Woodward's stint as CEO, Mendes was the major player in United's signings who was not directly employed by the club.

Mendes has an impressive array of clients; Lille midfielder Renato Sanches and Wolves duo Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto are perhaps the players who may be of interest to United in the future.

Yet the influence of Mendes stretches far beyond his clients and he plays an influential role in the future of many of the game's star players.

One such player of interest would be Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati, who is officially represented by his father Bori Fati but Mendes acts as an intermediary in discussions with Barca and advising the player on his position.

Which Mendes clients would be a good fit for Man Utd? Comment below

The teenage forward is technically out of contract at the Camp Nou next summer - with the club believing they have a unilateral two-year extension to trigger, but their financial issues may lead to uncertainty over his future.

The 18-year-old has attracted the interest of United in recent transfer windows without a formal approach ever being made, but any future move may be dependent on their relationship with Mendes.

United's signing of Ronaldo may bring success on the pitch but it is their renewed relationship with Mendes that may prove equally as influential in the years to come.

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