17 hours ago
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Vlado Lemic has once again shown he's not one to shy away from stirring the pot this summer.
Alexander Isak's agent has sparked one of the most significant transfer dramas in recent times, just as the new Premier League season is about to kick off.
The Newcastle United striker, who has netted 62 goals in 109 matches, is now refusing to play for the club in an attempt to force a move to Liverpool before the transfer window closes. His decision, and its timing, have certainly raised a few eyebrows. It comes as Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville disagree over Isak's potential impact.
However, things become clearer when you consider one of the advisors who has been guiding him over the past few weeks, Lemic. The world of football agency involves strategic power plays and pitting parties against each other.
These are skills that the 59-year-old Serbian has honed over more than 25 years in the industry. What began as primarily assisting players from his homeland to secure moves to the Netherlands has grown into one of the largest agencies globally, Universal Twenty Two, which also represents stars like Emi Martinez and Luka Modric.
Lemic first faced criticism during his early work for PSV in the 2000s. He was accused of financial misconduct, allegations that were never proven but resulted in him being banned from the club's training ground nonetheless.
Four years on in 2012, FIFA launched a probe into his involvement in Croatian midfielder Milan Badelj's switch from Dinamo Zagreb to Hamburg. The world governing body reached out to all relevant parties after allegations emerged that Lemic had pocketed money from the transaction through an artificially inflated transfer fee.
However, they shut down the inquiry in February 2013, stating at the time: "After an investigation by FIFA TMS (Transfer Management System) into the allegations, it appears that there was no substantial involvement by Vlado Lemic in this transfer."
Throughout this period, Lemic had been climbing the football hierarchy. Having previously orchestrated a partnership between PSV and Chelsea that allowed the Dutch club to house the Blues' acquisitions until work permits could be secured, he became increasingly entangled with Roman Abramovich's operations.
He was reportedly instrumental in bringing Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic to Stamford Bridge in 2008 and 2009, respectively. His web of connections was expanding rapidly across Europe, including at Real Madrid, who, with his assistance, included a £387 million ($525 million) release clause in Luka Modric's deal when he arrived from Tottenham in 2012.
In recent times, Lemic facilitated numerous transactions for Ajax, who have reportedly now followed PSV's example and prohibited him from their dealings. Swedish outfit AIK are also understood to have similarly severed connections with his agency.
Universal Twenty Two agency has been approached for comment. Interestingly, Lemic isn't officially a licensed player agent but rather sees himself as an adviser.
He collaborates closely with his brother Zoran, who is FIFA-licensed, and several other partners like Sven Mislintat, through whom official communication is usually made with clubs.
Gonzalo Gaitan, for instance, has been handling most of Isak's negotiations. Ultimately, it's clear that Lemic is a man who typically gets his way, earning a tidy sum for his advisory services along the way.
This approach is being tested to its limits with Isak, whose threat to go on strike permanently seems ill-advised given Newcastle is under no obligation to sell this summer, especially with their hunt for a replacement striker encountering numerous obstacles. Whether these tactics will prove successful and Liverpool can increase their initial $148 million bid remains to be seen.
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