Virgil van Dijk has become the latest in a long line of 'inside agents' who have helped their clubs make superstar signings.
Van Dijk has reportedly played a key role in convincing Netherlands teammate Cody Gakpo to move to Liverpool. The deal came as a surprise to many, with the attacker having been heavily linked to Manchester United, rather than their Premier League rivals.
Despite those links, Gakpo completed his move to Anfield on Wednesday after undergoing a medical at the Reds training ground. Here, Mirror Football looks at Van Dijk's inside role and four other players who have convinced friends to join their teams.
Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo
Liverpool star Van Dijk has played regularly alongside Gakpo at international level, including at the most recent World Cup. And after completing his move to the Reds, Gakpo revealed the defender had called him personally to convince him to join.
"We spoke a lot over the phone [in] the last days. What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player, that the club is a really big and massive club but also like a real family," Gakpo said.
"I think that's also very important for me because I'm a family guy. He said only good things. I'm also happy that he's here, so he can help me with some stuff. I'm really grateful to be here."
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Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United were locked in a transfer battle with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku back in 2017. The Red Devils were able to call upon a secret weapon in Paul Pogba though, with the midfielder helping to convince him to move to Old Trafford.
His role in the £75million deal was revealed when he posted a video on Instagram welcoming Lukaku to United, having branded himself 'Agent P'. And Lukaku also confirmed that Pogba's role had been key in convincing him to join United.
"He is one of my best friends, and he is my neighbour as well. We are always together on a daily basis so he would explain to me how things were going. When he signed for United, to have witnessed that, it really triggered something in my brain," he said.
Neymar and Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi and Neymar have been heavily involved in each other's career paths. First, in 2013, it was a phone call with Messi that convinced Neymar to join Barcelona, according to the Brazilian's former agent Wagner Ribeiro.
"Neymar had a conversation with Messi that was essential for him to sign for Barcelona. I wanted him to go to Real Madrid who sent him a contract to sign. It was then that conversation with Messi took place and he decided on Barcelona," he said.
Neymar repaid the favour in the summer of 2021 when Messi announced he would be leaving Barca. The Argentine superstar revealed his former team-mate helped to convince him to move to Paris Saint-Germain.
"I've got some friends here in the dressing room. When you see the squad you really want to play with them. We had contact and Neymar, of course, did a lot and was important," Messi said at his unveiling.
Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo
While Rio Ferdinand and Sir Alex Ferguson have claimed credit for convincing Cristiano Ronaldo to join Manchester United in the summer of 2021, Bruno Fernandes also played a key role in the deal.
He revealed his insider role when Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford was confirmed, tweeting: "Agent Bruno? Welcome back home @Cristiano". And then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also highlighted Fernandes' role.
"We've always had good communication. I know Bruno's been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him. And if he was ever gonna move away from Juventus he knows we're here," Solskjaer said at the time.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Saul Niguez
Saul's loan move to Chelsea came very late in the 2021 summer transfer window. And the Blues had a helping hand from then-outcast Kepa as they sought to bring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge.
The duo had come through the ranks of Spain's national youth teams together, though they played for separate clubs. And Saul revealed that the keeper's presence at Chelsea had been a key factor in his decision to join the Blues.
"It is very important that he be there. It is an important step. If he had not been there, it would have been different. Going on loan for a year and having a partner with whom I have been spending many years in the lower categories of the National Team is important," he told the Daily Mail.
