The invisible power at Milan: Player agents and modern squad building
AC Milan’s revival over the last few seasons hasn’t only been about smart coaching and recruitment. Behind the scenes, a network of agents and agencies shapes the careers of the club’s biggest names – from contract extensions and salary structures to potential blockbuster transfers.
From Rafael Leão’s family-led representation to Christian Pulisic via boutique agency Centre Circle, the Rossoneri dressing room is a case study in how modern football careers are built, protected and monetised.
In this article, we look at five AC Milan players: Rafael Leão, Christian Pulisic, Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori and Alexis Saelemaekers.
We’ll also touch on rumours linking Robert Lewandowski with a move to Milan, as reported by the outlet Milan Reports, and how that fits into the club’s wider agent landscape.
Rafael Leão – AC Milan’s MVP, guided by his family
Leão’s rise to superstardom
Rafael Leão joined AC Milan from Lille in the summer of 2019 and became the face of the club’s new era. In the 2021–22 season he was named Serie A Most Valuable Player after driving Milan to their first Scudetto in over a decade with decisive goals and assists.
Since then he has evolved into one of Europe’s most feared left-sided forwards – a one-v-one specialist with elite acceleration, creativity and end-product, and a constant reference point in Milan’s attacking structure.
Milan moved to protect that asset by extending his contract (running long term) and building the attack around him.
A family-led representation model
Unlike many elite players, Leão is represented primarily by his relatives rather than a traditional agency. That kind of family-led structure is not unusual at the top level and can work extremely well when there is trust, clarity and the right external support.
A good comparison is German star Florian Wirtz, whose family has also taken the lead on his career and whose father brokered his high-profile move to Liverpool. A story that Thorsten Wirth of ROOF detailed in a rare, in-depth conversation with Tom Junkersdorf on the TOMorrow Business Podcast, which we unpacked on FootballAgencies.com.
Leão’s setup suggests a similar philosophy: tight inner circle, high trust, and carefully chosen external expertise when needed. For Milan, that means major negotiations involve not just club management but a very close-knit family group with a long-term view of his career in Italy and beyond.
Christian Pulisic – Centre Circle Consulting and a reborn star in Serie A
Pulisic’s rebirth at Milan
Christian Pulisic joined AC Milan from Chelsea in July 2023 on a four-year deal, ending a spell in England where he struggled for continuity but flashed elite talent in big moments.
At Milan, he has been re-energised: used predominantly on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, Pulisic has contributed goals and assists in Serie A and Europe, quickly becoming a key part of the Rossoneri’s attacking unit alongside Leão and other players.
Who are Centre Circle Consulting Ltd?
Pulisic is represented by Centre Circle Consulting Ltd, a London-based sports agency that focuses on career strategy, cross-border transfers and holistic support for top-level professionals.
Centre Circle is a boutique-style agency known for close, hands-on client relationships.
With a strong experience navigating moves between major European leagues and North America, focus on long-term career planning rather than short-term churn.
Mike Maignan – Excellence Sport Nation behind Milan’s wall in goal
Maignan’s status among elite goalkeepers
When Gianluigi Donnarumma left Milan in 2021, replacing him looked like an impossible task. The club turned to Mike Maignan, signing him from Lille on a five-year deal for a fee reported around €13m.
Maignan has since become Milan’s undisputed No. 1 and one of Europe’s top goalkeepers, combining shot-stopping, sweeping and elite distribution. Beyond the spectacular saves, his distribution and leadership from the back have been essential to the way Milan build from deep and manage high-pressure scenarios.
Excellence Sport Nation – a goalkeeping powerhouse
Maignan is represented by Excellence Sport Nation, a French football agency with a strong footprint among leading European talents, especially in France and across the major leagues.
The agency typically emphasises elite physical and mental preparation, strong positioning of players at clubs that fit their style and strengths, and strategic contract renewals that reflect each player’s performance and status.
Mike Maignan has been a serious target for Chelsea, with the club holding talks with AC Milan earlier in 2025 as they assessed upgrades on Robert Sánchez, only for negotiations to cool when Milan demanded a high fee despite his contract running only until June 2026. With reports suggesting Maignan is unlikely to extend and would be open to a move in 2026, Chelsea are viewed as prime candidates to land him on a free transfer, although Juventus and potentially other European heavyweights are now firmly in the race.
Fikayo Tomori – From Cobham graduate to San Siro leader with Sport Invest
Tomori’s Milan career so far
Fikayo Tomori’s move from Chelsea to Milan is one of the best examples of how a change of league and environment can unlock a player’s full potential.
At Milan, Tomori has developed into a fast, aggressive, front-foot central defender. He formed strong partnerships at the back, using his pace to cover high defensive lines.
His ability to defend in space, adapt to Italian tactical demands and contribute to build-up has made him a cornerstone of Milan’s defensive structure when fit.
Sport Invest – an agency focused on long-term positioning
Tomori is represented by Sport Invest, a Czech football agency with a portfolio across top European leagues. Their approach generally centres on placing players in environments where they can play regularly and develop. Combining on-pitch objectives with long-term career and financial planning.
Tomori’s decision to commit to Milan long term reflects a carefully thought-out strategy: rather than bouncing between clubs, he’s built a strong identity and reputation in Serie A. Sport Invest’s role is to ensure his contractual situation tracks with his importance to the team and his growing international profile.
Alexis Saelemaekers – Unique Sports Group and a versatile wide player
Saelemaekers’ journey with Milan and beyond
Belgian international Alexis Saelemaekers initially joined AC Milan from Anderlecht (via loan and then permanent deal), quickly earning a reputation as a tireless, tactically disciplined wide player. Comfortable as a winger or wing-back, his work rate, pressing and off-ball intelligence made him a valuable squad option during Milan’s title-winning and Champions League campaigns.
In recent seasons, he has experienced new challenges away from Milan on loan, gaining more minutes and responsibility in other European environments while remaining tied to the Rossoneri’s overall asset base. That kind of career path – alternating between time at a top club and spells elsewhere to maximise development – is increasingly common for versatile players in stacked squads.
Unique Sports Group – a major player on the agency scene
Saelemaekers is represented by Unique Sports Group, one of the leading football agencies based in the UK and Europe.
Unique Sports Group is known for a strong portfolio of players across the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and beyond. Deep experience in high-value transfers and renewals in the “top five” leagues. A data- and relationships-driven approach to positioning clients at ambitious clubs.
For Milan, the relationship with Unique Sports Group adds another influential agency to the club’s ecosystem, smoothing negotiations and maintaining a clear channel around one of their useful, multi-role assets.
What’s Next? Lewandowski rumours and Milan’s evolving agent landscape
To underline how closely Milan is linked to the wider agent world, recent rumours have suggested that Robert Lewandowski, who is represented by Pini Zahavi's Gol International agency, could be a potential target for AC Milan in an upcoming window.
Whether such a blockbuster move materialises or not, it highlights a few things: Milan are once again seen as a credible destination for global stars in their later prime.
As AC Milan continue to rebuild their status among Europe’s elite, understanding the agencies behind the players is no longer optional – it’s essential. The club’s future success will depend not just on who wears the shirt, but on the network of representatives, families and agencies who are helping shape those careers behind the scenes.
