Man Utd 'Enter Talks' With Agent Behind One Of Club's Most Controversial Transfers

Manchester United have reportedly entered talks with an agent who was responsible for one of the most controversial deals in the club's history.

Sir Alex Ferguson was a staunch critic of agents during his 27-year stint as United boss, claiming that their use of negotiations was 'just a huge ego trip'.

In 2011, he tore into London-based agent Jerome Anderson, who had an influential advisory role at Blackburn Rovers, stating that he 'couldn't pick his nose'.

And Paul Pogba's advisor, Rafaela Pimenta, revealed that Ferguson was left furious after entering a meeting over Pogba's lack of game time during his first spell at Old Trafford.

"I call it a train crash. It started bad, it ended bad," she told The Guardian. "Sir Alex came in and he was so angry that he hit the table and our tea spilled everywhere. He was totally red. Mino [Raiola, Pogba's then-agent] was totally angry. It was a disaster."

Agents have had growing influence on football transfers over recent years, with the likes of Jorge Mendes playing pivotal roles in getting deals over the line.

Kia Joorabchian, meanwhile, was the agent of Carlos Tevez while he was at Manchester United, and once fired back at Gary Neville's claims that Tevez had 'downed tools' before then moving to Manchester City.

But one of the club's most controversial dealings was the one that brought Portuguese forward Bebe to Old Trafford in 2010.

Ferguson admitted later that he had never seen Bebe play before he signed for the club.

Bebé’s first goal for Manchester United vs Wolves in the Carling Cup - 2010

pic.twitter.com/ABLQAUJLVV

— United Vault (@UtdVault) August 22, 2025

It was claimed the future Cape Verde international was instead recommended by his assistant manager Carlos Quieroz, though that claim was later denied.

Jorge Mendes, Bebe's agent, was given €3.8 million of the €9 million fee paid to Bebe's former club Vitoria de Guimaraes.

In 2012, Portuguese anti-corruption police launched an investigation into the transfer, and wrote to Bebe's former agent Goncalo Reis, who was replaced by Mendes and Gestifute six days before the transfer went through.

Gestifute denied wrongdoing in the case, while a United spokesperson told BBC Sport that 'nobody is suggesting that we have done anything wrong'.

No charges were ever brought in relation to the transfer.

Now, United may do business with Mendes again, with reports claiming they have made contact with German club Borussia Dortmund over the signing of forward - and Mendes client - Karim Adeyemi.

According to German outlet Bild, the Germany international's 'emotional outbursts and strained relationship with coach Niko Kovac' have both prompted doubt over his future at Signal Iduna Park.

The 23-year-old threw a water bottle after being substituted during Dortmund's 1-0 win over FC Koln last month.

His replacement, Fabio Silva, provided the assist for Dortmund's 96th-minute winner, with Kovac stating post-match: "It's okay that he [Adeyemi] can be angry sometimes, but that's unnecessary, he's an adult."

Bild claim that talks are in 'full swing' over the long-term future of the forward, with Dortmund said to have set the player's asking price at £70 million.

In addition, Mendes is said to have spoken with United chiefs over a potential move.

United spent over £150 million in the summer transfer window on attackers Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, with reports suggesting that they will move on to midfield targets in the upcoming windows.