The truth behind the transfer of Wataru Endo, behind the too-hard negotiations… A talented agent reveals, “That’s why I can’t quit my agent.

A soccer agent does not have a clean image. To put it bluntly, they are more like “money-grubbers” and “money-grubbers.

For example, Mino Raiola (54 years old), a big-name agent who passed away last year, demanded 41 million pounds (about 7.3 billion yen), including fees, for the transfer of Paul Pogba of France to Manchester United in 2004. Perhaps it is because of such a huge amount of money, agents are often spoken of with a dirty image.

Certainly, there may be such an impression. However, in my opinion, a good agent is someone who can make a player’s ideal career come true. Not all players can move to Liverpool, although Wataru has achieved success through his own exceptional efforts. But each player has his or her own envisioned soccer life. I believe it is in the nature of an agent’s job to listen to their ideals and create the best possible options and environment, with a view to compensation, salary, and sometimes even a future that extends beyond the end of their professional career.

He says that there were times when he felt his life was in danger as he engaged in tough negotiations, putting the players first.

It was more than 20 years ago,” he says, “when I was negotiating with an Italian club, we were on the verge of a fight. The president of the other club told me to be careful on the streets at night (laughs). (Laughs.) But it was my job, too, and I couldn’t back down. The agent business is very rewarding, including all of the cut and thrust.

Endo smiled as he said this. Many great players will be joining the top ranks of the world’s top teams under Endo’s leadership in the years to come.

Takashi Endo: Born in Tokyo in May 1972. After working for the prestigious Premier League club Arsenal, he became the first Japanese to be licensed as a certified player’s agent by the English Football Association. Started the agent business.’ In 2005, he established Universal Sports Japan Inc. In ’22, he formed a capital alliance with Osens Law Offices and started a general sports agent business. In September of this year, he published his first book, “Agents Never Sleep” (Tokuma Shoten).