The Deal Done Serbia  conference is one for the books: 
🛫 Every time I travel (usually, and fortunately, with my wife and partner), I realize how lucky we are to do what we do. The value of these meetings is incredible, and for this, my heartfelt thanks this time go to someone that I now I can call a friend, Edvard Markovic, founder of the Deal Done Serbia conference. You did an amazing job and the event is shaping High level professionals and experts from all around the globe. One of the most important values in this football world, increasingly populated by technology and AI, is undoubtedly human relationships. Being a FIFA Agent—FIGC, FA, PFF, etc.—still means having respect for people, relationships, and roles as core values. Football has always been a globalized market, at least for as long as I can remember. 
It united Europe even before politics, even before the European Union 🇪🇺 
The unifying power of this sport should not be underestimated, especially in a widespread political landscape that would like us to be increasingly divided. Deal Done Serbia was hosted in the beautiful setting of the Serbian Football Federation, where I was fortunate enough, arriving on the first evening, to meet some players from the Serbian women's national team at the end of the World Cup qualifying match against Denmark. It was interesting that both teams were in the same group as Italy 🇮🇹
Two days of conferences where I had the pleasure of sharing two panels with incredible colleagues, first on a sports agent perspective regarding issues related to women's football and representation, the gender gap, marketing, and sponsorship into the women's football. Then, in the second panel, where I had the privilege to share the panel with incredible lawyers and met up with a dear friend, lawyer and UEFA advisor Salvatore Civale, where we analyzed from a legal perspective the regulatory complexities of the Football agents world due to the FFAR and the innovations introduced just the night before our panel, by the historic FIFA - FIFPRO agreement, which, starting January 1, 2027, will effectively provide us industry professionals with a wealth of material for discussion and work. Fun fact: the night before, I was sleepless due to my obsessive love (those who know me know this) for New York and everything that revolves around the big Apple 🗽 — watching updates on Game 4 of the New York Knicks with a crazy 20+ point comeback... so that morning in the event lobby, I discovered this news while reading the agency newsletter. I was sure it would be discussed at the panel. I admitted to staying up late following the Knicks 🏀 About Salvatore Civale, as I confided to him: I was a student of his and Professor Colucci's master at Sports Law and Policy Center back in 2015. It was special to share the panel with him and sit like two friends after so many years, talking about our own personal affairs and teasing each other about Napoli and Inter (🏆). And again, this proves what I was saying at the beginning. 
🤝Connections in this world, if cultivated with respect, are crucial. They're true game changers. Some agents often don't understand this as a basic principle, which in my opinion applies to all work environments. You can cheat, "rip off" once, twice if you're lucky. Then everything gets burned. The football community is alive and speaks to all corners of the globe, whether you behave well or badly. I also know from the agents' association I proudly represent both in Italy (IAFA) and Worldwide (IFFA), many stories like this, end with that agent or agency ceasing operations after a couple of years because the clubs and other agents no longer work with them ❌ 
An advice: be smart. Respect to be respected. 
🌍 In the agency's daily transfer business, during the summer we speak with approximately 250 clubs from all around the world. It's complex but incredibly rewarding to cultivate this network of people who share, at least in part, our vision of our world of women's football—that Needs to be honest, fair, respectful, and sustainable. 
🚀 I truly believe that we are going into the right direction but we can't get distracted for a moment. This is the era to push it Over the limits. This is the time to think that something extraordinary could be done if we unite forces more than before. 

I was talking about doing something beyond the pale... it was a pleasure meeting finally in person after several videomeetings, Stefan Duscheck, president of IFFA, with whom we plan to do something big for the agents' profession. And yes, Stefan, I know that Shakira has been participating in the World Cup more recently than the Italian men's national team... We have to accept that. Better times will come, with new Roberto Baggio. 
🙌 Lastly, I'd like to thank all the people—colleagues, agents, club directors, and others involved in football in various capacities—who deemed it appropriate to "wait for me" at the end of the panels to exchange information, numbers, and more generally "opportunities." This is by no means a given; it hasn't gone unnoticed.
In fact, I can't wait to meet some of you on my next trip to New York and Washington, as well as welcoming others for the best pizza in the world (let us at least have that record) in Naples. As I often say when asked, I'm just trying to be what I wish others had been with me when I was 23, approaching this world, without being the son, nephew, cousin, or relative of someone else. See you at the next event, meeting, or airport rendezvous.

(Giulio)