Roberto Meloni: «Lauriente? A predestined. And the former PSG Kalimuendo was close to Cagliari"
He is 39 years old and holds the position of Executive Director of SRM-Sport Royal Management, a company based in Paris: «The rossoblù club had gone a long way, but the negotiation was not successful
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A past in amateur football in the ranks of Sinnai, his country of origin. Years ago the choice to leave Sardinia to travel the world and learn languages. Then an episode changed his life: «At the time I worked in the restaurant business – says Roberto Meloni, 39, who today is a high-level football agent by trade -. Thanks to a contact I had in Paris, I approached the world of prosecutors. Being a big football fan, this intrigued me. As I settled in France I began to understand how the profession worked and to build a network of contacts. I therefore abandoned the world of catering and embarked on a career as an agent». Meloni today holds the role of Executive Director of SRM-Sport Royal Management, a company based in Paris that he himself founded together with his partner Johan Caurant and which looks after the interests of the players.
Meloni your agency how many players do you assist?
“About a dozen. We do not only operate in France but internationally. Let's follow, for example, a player who plays in the top Thai league. We are talking about Lonsana Doumbouya, a French-Guinean striker with a past in China and Belgium. In Ligue 1 we manage Thierno Baldé, Troyes right-back with a past in PSG. Also in France, our company assists two young talents: Carmel Mabanza and Nielsen Luzein, both born in '03, who play in the spring, respectively for Lille and Rennes. Recently, we have also landed in Italy».
By the way, in Italy you follow Armand Laurienté, the Sassuolo striker.
"Exactly. Armand is doing very well in Sassuolo. In his first year in the top Italian league he has already scored five goals, including one at the San Siro against Italian champions Milan. Today its value is around 15 million. Only two years ago I proposed him to Cagliari, together with another client, Arnaud Kalimuendo, former PSG and currently in force at Rennes. The latter was very close to wearing the Cagliari shirt but unfortunately, even if the club had gone a long way, the negotiation was not successful. Returning to Laurienté, I had been following him since he was practically a teenager. Before joining Sassuolo there were some teams interested in him. Turin comes to mind but also various Premier League and Bundesliga clubs. In the end, we opted for Sassuolo because they are a team that tends to value young players. He got on very well with Dionisi, he embarked on an important growth path. I'm sure he will play for a top club in the future."
An opinion on Ranieri's Cagliari?
«I can say that Ranieri represents a guarantee for Cagliari. He is a coach who works well with everyone, young and old. He's the man needed to bring Cagliari back to where it deserves, in Serie A. I also have one of my clients who plays in the spring, Nicola Pintus, born in '05. A very promising defender. I am convinced that the management is also already monitoring him for a possible inclusion in the first team».
Do you follow island soccer?
«Unfortunately, living outside, I don't have the possibility. But I know that there are some interesting prospects who militate in amateur categories that deserve more attention».
