'Fake news!' - Reports of £40m cut from Pogba's Man Utd transfer irk Raiola

'Fake news!' - Reports of £40m cut from Pogba's Man Utd transfer irk Raiola image

Mino Raiola has hit out at “mafia journalism” and branded any suggestion that he took a £40 million cut from Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United as “fake news”.

Dealings by the ‘super agent’ in an £89 million deal with Juventus are being investigated by FIFA.

Reports claim that world football’s governing body have been looking into the matter since September 2016, with it suggested that they are concerned about potential third party ownership, which is banned in English football.

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Raiola has fallen under the spotlight after it was claimed in a new book called ‘Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football’ that he had pocketed £22.8m from the Pogba deal and stood to earn a further £16.39m across five instalments.

He has, however, blasted back at the accusations, telling Radio Deejay in Italy: "I cashed £40m? It's fake.

"95% of Football Leaks' [information] about me is fake news.

"I won't answer to mafia journalism."

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United have refused to be drawn on the issue, with a spokesman announcing when news of FIFA’s interest in the transfer emerged: “We don’t comment on contracts, FIFA have had the documents since the transfer in August.”

Pogba has struggled for consistency at times during his first season back in English football, but has still played a leading role at Old Trafford.

He made 51 appearances across the 2016-17 campaign, netting nine goals and helping United to secure Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League honours.