Renowned football agents, Mino Raiola, has refuted reports making the rounds in some media outlets that he has died.
The Italian, who represents some top and prominent players in European football, has been battling undisclosed illness and has been hospitalised for a while now.
Raiola is exasperated by the reports of his death, saying this is the second time fake reports of his death are being disseminated.
Mino Raiola’s close friend Jose Fortes Rodriguez also denied reports of his death as fake news continues to spread online.
Raiola has represented countless big names across Europe’s major leagues over the last 20 years and helped broker a number of high profile deals.
It has been widely reported that the Italian has passed away at the age of 54, but Rodriguez insists that he is still alive in hospital.
Rodriguez has told De Telegraaf: “Mino isn’t dead. Those reports are nonsense.”
Doctor Alberto Zangrillo from San Raffaele Hospital in Milan has added: “I’m outraged by the phone calls from pseudo-journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting to survive.”
Raiola had previously taken in a spell in hospital in January and underwent surgery on an unspecified issue.
A statement from his official Twitter account at the time read: “Mino Raiola is undergoing ordinary medical checks that require anaesthesia. All was planned and no emergency surgery happened.”
Raiola has sent a new message to his followers amid the speculation over his health, which reads: “Current health status for the ones wondering: pissed off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to resuscitate.”
Current health status for the ones wondering: pissed off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to ressuscitate.
— Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) April 28, 2022