Farewell to a Football Representation Icon: Jonathan Barnett Retires at 74

The world of footballer representation loses a myth: Jonathan Barnett says goodbye to his 74 years. The British agent has decided to retire from the professional scene after having achieved great movements for footballers, among which the agreement he made with Real Madrid for Gareth Bale and the transfer of Jack Grealish to Manchester City stand out.

His representation agency, Stellar Group, was founded in 1994 together with David Manasseh, reached its peak when it was named by Forbes as the most valuable soccer agency in the world. His client list includes names such as the aforementioned Grealish and Bale, as well as Saul Niguez, Eduardo Camavinga, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jordan Pickford.

Operation Bale

Although he specialized in the beautiful sport, he is credited with being the man who brought Lennox Lewis to the world of boxing. However, his great work was with Gareh Bale. He was the mastermind behind the transfer of the Welsh forward to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for 100 million euros in 2013, after a tough negotiation with Daniel Levy.

His closeness with Bale went beyond the strictly professional. Barnett was always at the player’s side, defending him until the last day of his career. On numerous occasions, while he was a member of the white club, he came out to stand up for him. “Speak Spanish. What happens is that people who don’t know him say no. Stupid, ignorant people who haven’t talked to him. It is a pity”.

“Madrid fans have been disgusting with Bale”

Barnett

He even attacked Zidane when he was leading Madrid. “It’s disrespectful, it’s a disgrace to talk like that about someone who has done so much for the club.”

“Real Madrid should kiss the ground where Bale steps,” he admitted on British radio talkSPORT years ago. “Madrid fans have been disgusting with Bale.” He also demanded a dignified farewell when his farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu was already in sight.

In January 2023, the Welshman definitively announced his retirement from professional football. At 33 years old, after winning the MLS with Los Angeles FC and after winning five Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, he took the definitive step. “It was the hardest decision of my career,” Bale wrote on his social networks. A year and a few weeks later Barnett does it.

successful ending

In 2019 he was named the number one most powerful sports agent in the world. In the summer of 2021 he brokered a similar deal between Aston Villa and Manchester City for Jack Grealish. The citizens reached €100 million and the Briton became the most expensive player of all time in the Premier League. With the glory achieved, Barnett decided to sell his agency to the Hollywood talent agency ICM Partners in 2020.

2024-03-04 08:15:24
#Goodbye #Bale.. #goodbye #Barnett