The modern agent, in three words
Ali Barat, founder of Epic Sports, to define what separates elite operators from the rest. One line sets the tone:
“Standing out as a soccer agent is really about three fundamentals: strategy, trust and execution.”
Below, we expand on those pillars, and show how Barat applies them in the wild.
Strategy: build the road before the race
Barat’s model starts long before signatures and photo ops. Strategy is about multi-season planning, regulatory awareness, and sequencing moves for compounding upside (role fit → performance → timing → valuation). It’s also about how a football agency is built.
“Excellence starts with structure.”
In practical terms, “structure” means: the right specialists in legal and compliance, proactive image-rights planning, and contract architectures that leave room for renegotiation triggers when performance spikes.
Trust: the compounding currency
Trust isn’t a soft virtue in Barat’s world; it’s an operating system. It shows up in how agents manage expectations, protect confidentiality, and tell clients the difficult “no” when a flashy move isn’t the right one.
“Long-term vision. Lasting relationships. Endless impact,” Barat told Forbes.
When trust is the default, negotiations move faster and cleaner. Clubs call back. Players buy in. Windows get calmer.
Execution: quiet wins over loud promises
Execution is where reputations are made - medical logistics, work permits, add-on structures, disclosure rules, multi-club alignment. Barat frames execution as the discipline that converts strategy into reality.
“Standing out… is really about strategy, trust and execution.”
Execution also means delivering the exact terms agreed, on time, with no surprises, so the player can focus on performance while the paperwork stays invisible.
A philosophy that scales
Barat’s public positioning of Epic Sports is consistent: keep clients at the center, plan ahead, and deliver under pressure.
“We believe in integrity, excellence and innovation… building genuine relationships and managing careers with transparency and dedication.”
And internally, the mantra is simple:
“Think ahead: deals aren’t just opportunistic—they’re planned, mapped, aligned.”
That philosophy isn’t abstract - Barat and Epic Sports recently welcomed brothers Justin and Ruben Kluivert into the roster, a twin signing that underlines the agency’s strategy-first approach.”
Why this matters in 2025–26
Today’s market is louder (and riskier) than ever: evolving agent/FA rules, cross-border tax and image-rights complexities, and clubs balancing FFP/Sustainability regs with performance needs. Barat’s three-part filter is a useful lens for players and clubs alike:
- If a move doesn’t fit the strategy, pass.
- If it undermines trust, pass.
- If it can’t be executed cleanly, pass.
That clarity protects careers, budgets, and brands, and it travels across leagues.
Credit: This article draws on Forbes’ interview with Ali Barat by Daniele Proch.
