'Haaland will earn over €1 billion during his career' - Rafaela Pimenta

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 14 Jun 2024 19:23 BST
• 4 min read

Rafaela Pimenta is convinced that Erling Haaland’s earnings will exceed €1 billion by the time his career ends.

Pimenta, Haaland’s agent, organised his transfer to Manchester City in 2022 and she believes her client is on course to rack up a huge fortune during his playing career.

During an exclusive interview with Flashscore, Pimenta was asked why she recently told Telefoot that Haaland was worth €1bn.

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She replied: “When I said that this amount corresponded to 'his value', I wasn't talking about his 'transfer value'.

“I was referring to the value of a top player at that age, with enormous room for improvement - and when I said that, he hadn't even done the treble - a player who finished as top scorer in the Premier League despite being injured for two months... He's a player with great potential.

"What do I see when I make this estimate? I see all the financial considerations that revolve around him, even though he's a serious player who works hard, is organised, focused and never gets lost,” Pimenta continued.

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“He's been at Manchester City for two years now and there's never been any gossip about him... His profile represents a huge value in the eyes of sponsors and clubs, as well as in terms of shirt sales and media exposure.

"And all that, put together: ticket sales, TV rights, everything Erling will earn over the course of his career, I'm convinced it will exceed a billion."

When subsequently questioned if Haaland would become a ‘one-club man’ at Man City, Pimenta responded: “I don't know, but I think the Erling Haaland project will last over time, over the next few years. It will also depend on trends in football.

“In any case, one thing is certain today: Erling Haaland feels at home at Manchester City! He is 1000 percent committed to the City project and is already looking forward to the new season with the club.”

Erling Haaland’s “bittersweet” transfer

Pimenta also admitted that Haaland’s transfer to City in 2022 was “bittersweet” due to the passing of her business partner Mino Raiola.

Pimenta played a key role in the Norwegian’s move to the Etihad Stadium, but the move was a difficult one due to Raiola’s sad passing just a few months prior.

“I don't think this story belongs to me. It belongs to Erling Haaland. It belongs to Manchester City,” she said. “I was there as an advisor. If I tell you about the transfer, perhaps I'm going to tell you something that doesn't belong to me.

"So I can give you my perspective, my experience and what affected me. For example, when we were carrying out this transfer, it was a very difficult time for me... Very complicated because Mino wasn't there. All the transfers I've made in my life I've made with Mino.

She continued: “What I'm about to tell you is sad. Because, from my perspective, the Haaland transfer tasted bittersweet. In other words, sweet and bitter at the same time. And why was that? Because Mino wasn't there.

“And I would have loved to have been with him at that moment, at the time of the transfer, at the time of the signing and especially at the time of Haaland's first match. That match was a moment of joy for everyone. But personally, I had tears in my eyes because I was thinking about Mino.

"And I can say the same thing about Paul (Pogba)'s transfer to Juventus. The day Paul signed for the Old Lady, I started crying.

"Because there was the whole Juve club, there was Paul, his family, myself... but Mino was missing. Those were complicated times,” Pimenta concluded.