The "great
beneficiary of the 2014 transfer window" was Portuguese football agent
Jorge Mendes, who by overseeing the sale of five high-profile clients -- four
signed by English clubs -- negotiated combined fees of £228M ($373M), according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Mendes -- the definition of the phrase "superagent" -- is the "serial lottery
winner from the Gestifute agency." Radamel Falcao and Ángel di María moved to ManU "in deals that
could eventually top" £90M ($147M). James Rodriguez moved from Monaco to Real
Madrid for £63M ($103M). Man City "signed Eliaquim Mangala from
Porto" in a deal understood to be worth £43M ($70M). Chelsea struck a bargain deal for Mendes player
Diego Costa’s "move to Stamford Bridge from Atlético Madrid" for £32M ($52M). Mendes "has consolidated his
position as the agent with the most wanted mobile phone number in Europe." Mendes’s impact on English and European clubs "has grown from humble beginnings
in 1996." His company "now has player assets worth billions" (TELEGRAPH, 9/3).
