David Meyler: The world of football agents can be a murky place

EX-IRELAND INTERNATIONAL David Meyler has joined The42 as our new football columnist for this season.

Every Friday, the former Hull City and Sunderland midfielder will give expert insight and his predictions ahead of the weekend’s Premier League action, alongside the latest William Hill prices. 

In his latest piece, he dissects Paul Pogba’s situation ahead of the Manchester derby and previews Everton v Chelsea at Goodison Park.

Man United v Man City, 5.30pm Saturday  

The vast majority of professional footballers have representation of some kind nowadays.

Most will hire an agent, but it is not entirely unheard of for family members to fill that role and negotiate new contracts on their behalf.

High-profile players such as Lionel Messi, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard have employed their fathers at one stage or another, while the likes of Pep Guardiola, Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold enlisted brothers as intermediaries. 

When I first came over to Sunderland as a teenager, my dad was representing me as I knew he would have my best interests at heart.

I’m a father of two children now and you want to protect your kids while also seeing them do well. Sunderland had put a three-year deal in front of me, and said they’d give us some time to talk it over.

My dad asked me if I was happy with it, but I had an offer from Cork City that was double what Sunderland put on the table. I was thinking I could live with my mum and dad and get a nice few bob each week. Even though I had always wanted to play in the Premier League, getting to stay at home with my mates sounded fantastic.

He might be a lecturer in Business at Cork Institute of Technology, but my father’s negotiating skills weren’t great. I think he went looking for a couple of hundred quid extra and Sunderland turned that down. So he says ‘Right David, sign there’, and that was the end of it.

He told me I wasn’t coming home and that I’d have to pack my bags — as this was all I ever wanted to do — and I’m thankful today that he did that.

But the world of football agents can be a murky place. I then signed with a company who promised me this, that and the other but I ended up getting shafted when I signed a new five-year deal at Sunderland in 2010.

There was a breach of contract as they had bent the rules and thought they could get away with it. The issue was eventually ironed out but it taught me a valuable lesson that you need to be wary of people who are out to make a quick buck off the back of young athletes.

I eventually brought in a gentleman named Neil Fewings — who also looks after Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice among others — and I still use him today.

This week, ‘super agent’ Mino Raiola was making headlines after stating that his client Paul Pogba wants out of Manchester United as he is unhappy at the club. 

Raiola, who represents some of the biggest names in the game, is notoriously outspoken and has had a fractious relationship with United going back to Alex Ferguson’s final years in charge. 

The timing of the comments were far from ideal as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was preparing for their final Champions League group game, in which they needed to pick up a point against RB Leipzig but lost 3-2 to exit the competition. 

Paul Pogba's second spell at Manchester United appears to be coming to an end. PA PA

I would be livid with my agent if he spoke to the media without my knowledge so you have to assume that it was discussed by the pair in advance.

There were times at Reading when it wasn’t going well for me and I wanted to leave, but my agent never came out touting me in the papers or on the radio. Now look, I’m not comparing myself to Paul Pogba but it is the same idea if a player is frustrated with their situation.

There’s no doubting that the boy has bags of ability, but you just don’t know what’s going on in his head. I have played against him a handful of time and, on his day, he is pound-for-pound one of the best midfielders in the world.

He’s big and athletic, he’s got an exquisite range of passing, strong on either foot, he can dribble and go by a player. He’s got a touch of arrogance in the way he plays. I’d chop my right hand off to be able to do the things he can do. 

It’s just the level of consistency that’s missing. He is at United four years now and simply hasn’t performed regularly enough to justify the money they spent.

If you look at the Juventus team he was playing in at the height of his powers, it was brimming with leaders so he just had to concentrate on his football. That prompted United to shell out £89 million (€105m) to bring him back for a second spell in 2016, and he became the face of the club but it hasn’t worked out despite flashes of brilliance.

Contrast that with Bruno Fernandes, who arrived last January. He was used to being the main man at Sporting and stepped up to fill that role at Old Trafford. Bruno always wants the ball and is constantly looking to make something happen.

Many United fans are surely thinking ‘We don’t need Pogba, we’ve got Bruno’ — someone who cares and who wants to make a difference. Sure, we’ve seen the video of him giving a speech to the France team before they won the World Cup in 2018 but I think Pogba struggles with the demands of being a leader.

United triggered a one-year extension to Pogba’s contract in October and I felt that was with a view to selling him in the new year.

Had they not renewed his deal, it would have left United with no bargaining chip in January if, for instance, Juventus decide they want him back or if Real Madrid — a club he has openly spoken about joining — declare their interest.

On Saturday’s Manchester derby, it’s difficult to call as you’re never sure which United will show up and they have tended to pull out a big result whenever the pressure has been mounting on Solskjaer. 

They’re capable of putting in a performance but City have really started to pick up in the last few weeks and they could easily go on a winning streak. 

Sergio Aguero was back scoring in the Champions League in midweek, which is good news for them. I can’t see City losing and as much as United will want to catch them on the counter attack, I think City will win. I’m optimistic for goals so I’ll say 4-2 to City.

• A 4-2 win for Man City over Man United at 35/1 with William Hill 

Everton v Chelsea, 8pm Saturday 

Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Lampard during their days together at Chelsea. PA PA

Carlo Ancelotti welcomes his old club and former player Frank Lampard to Goodison Park on Saturday night.

When Everton have a full strength XI, they can cause teams problems. Captain Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne play pivotal roles for the Toffees at full-back and they will both be a big loss.

They are key to how Everton play and their importance may get overlooked at times. Digne’s deliveries from set-pieces are a real danger, while Seamus brings leadership and a hunger to push fellas on. 

Ben Godfrey is likely to start in a three-man backline — which they have switched to in recent weeks — and he looks a bright prospect. He will probably go on to have a fantastic career, but you can’t underestimate having Coleman’s experience in the side.

Everything appears to be going well for Chelsea at the moment, with their squad rotation and the options Lampard has at his disposal.

Kai Havertz might be the one who hasn’t really hit the ground running, but he just needs time. Contracting Covid-19 has hampered the German attacker in recent weeks, but I believe he will come good. I’m backing a Chelsea victory — 2-1. 

• Chelsea to beat Everton 2-1 at 7/1 with William Hill 

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