In today’s football landscape, there is a phrase agents hear more often than they would like:
“Bring me an offer from a club, and then we can work together.”
It sounds simple. Logical, even. But beneath this seemingly straightforward request lies one of the biggest challenges modern agents, especially young and upcoming ones, are facing.
This has become a routine practice, almost a ritual. Players, and more commonly their family members, repeat this to several agents at once. It turns the player’s representation into an open contest: whoever delivers the first club offer gets the right to represent them.
The Rise of the Family Representative
More and more players today are being “represented” by family members, most often the father. On Transfermarkt, this is even reflected in the Agent section, where instead of a licensed intermediary or agency, it simply says:
“Family Member”
This small detail speaks volumes. It highlights how common it has become for players to rely on a relative, often someone with no formal training or experience, to handle one of the most critical aspects of their career.
These family members often act as the decision-makers and gatekeepers, telling interested agents:
“Bring us an offer, and then we’ll talk.”
And so begins a chaotic process where multiple agents chase club contacts with no agreement in place, while the family reserves the right to choose whichever option looks best later, if they respond at all.
But Agents Are Not Clubs
This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what agents do. We do not offer contracts. We facilitate them.
Only agents with strong, long-term relationships with clubs can even attempt to deliver serious interest. And even then, clubs will be cautious if they hear the same player has been pitched by multiple different agents. It makes the situation look unprofessional and desperate.
When ten different agents approach the same club with the same player, it devalues the player’s image. Clubs are less likely to respond, and the player risks missing out entirely.
The Agent’s Dilemma: Even an Offer Is Not Enough
Let’s assume you do everything right. You manage to secure interest from a club. Maybe you even get them to put together an official offer. Great, right?
Not necessarily.
Because the moment you go back to the family with that offer, you may hear:
“Thank you. We’ll think about it.”
And just like that, you are out of the picture.
Why? Because you never had a written agreement. The player or the family can now take that offer, or even just the idea of interest, and shop it around. They may hand the deal to another agent to finalize. Or they may go directly to the club themselves.
Even the club may not want to talk to you.
When there is confusion about who represents the player, most clubs will ask:
“Do you have a representation contract?”
And if you do not, many clubs will avoid the risk and go straight to the source—the player or the family. In fact, clubs often rely on this method. When in doubt, they ask the player directly, “Who is your agent?”
And the answer, more often than not, is:
“My father” or “My family”
So even if you bring value, create the connection, or spark the interest, without a contract you have no ground to stand on.
Trust Is Good, But Contracts Are Better
Yes, relationships in football often begin with trust. But trust alone will not protect your work.
If there is no signature, there is no structure. And in football, verbal trust without a written agreement leaves you wide open to being used, replaced, or ignored.
A Better Use of Time and Energy
Instead of chasing uncertain opportunities, agents can focus their efforts in smarter ways:
Support your existing clients. Build their careers and deepen the trust.
Scout and sign players who are ready to commit, not just those testing the market.
Collaborate with trusted agents, those with players in hand who need support in specific regions.
Build relationships with clubs. That is the long game that creates real opportunities.
A Final Thought
The agent-player relationship should be built on trust, alignment, and long-term vision, not on who can bring the fastest offer.
Players and families must understand that good representation is not about quick transactions. It is about shared goals, strategy, and continuity.
And agents must remember their value, protect their time, and stop being baited into an unwinnable game.
Being an agent is about more than just delivering offers. It is about building futures. And that starts with mutual respect, clear roles, and written agreements.