Mino Raiola, the agent of Rangers-linked PSG wonderkid Xavi Simons, has shut down reports this morning that he has passed away.
The legendary superagent took to Twitter to dispel ghoulish claims that he had died as the news apparently seemed to spread online.
Directly responding to claims that he has died, Mino Raiola quips that this is the second time in four months members of the press have reported him dead.
However, the agent – who represents a host of footballing superstars such as Paul Pogba and Erling Braut Haaland – is believed to be in a critical condition in hospital.
As Sky Sports report, Raiola was hospitalised on Thursday and he is fighting for his life in a Milan hospital.
Alberto Zangrillo, head of the Intensive Care Unit at San Raffaele Hospital, told Italian news agency ANSA: “I am outraged by phone calls from so-called journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting.”
It’s perhaps symptomatic of a clout-hungry football journalism culture that so many apparently respected journalists jumped on this story before fact-checking it.
We wish Mino Raiola all the best in his recovery and hope that he pulls through amid clear issues with his health.
Mino Raiola recovering with Xavi Simons yet to sign PSG deal
As for Xavi Simons – you’ll remember the youngster was heavily linked to Rangers back in January – the 19-year-old Dutch talent remains a point of interest for Ibrox fans.
Out of contract at PSG in the summer, after getting a flurry of games around the turn of the year the Simons has played once for the French club since mid-February, a four-minute cameo v Angers although he is a regular on the club’s bench.
Rangers clearly cannot compete with the biggest names in football for the youngster’s signature but whilst a new deal between Xavi Simons, Mino Raiola and PSG remains unsigned, we have a vested interest in the story.
Meanwhile, Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has been answering questions regarding a deal for an ex-Premier League defender.
