Mario Balotelli's emotional letter to 'second father' Mino Raiola will move you to tears

Italian striker Mario Balotelli has penned a moving tribute in memory of his deceased agent Mino Raiola. 

Raiola, one of football's super-agents, was confirmed dead by his family on Saturday after battling an illness for a while in a hospital in Milan.

The 54-year-old Italian-Dutch agent represented some of football's biggest stars including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland, and Mario Balotelli.

In an emotional tribute posted on his personal Instagram page, Balotelli mourned the demise of Raiola, who he described as a 'second father.'

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The former Liverpool and Manchester City striker revealed that he would always carry Raiola in his life, especially the help, advice and jokes that they shared.

Balotelli wrote: "You will always be with me in life and in football! Your reproaches, aid, advice, jokes and strategies will always be in my head.

"I LOVE YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU as a second father and I know that from up there you will always be present in our lives! Have a good trip Mino."

Balotelli was one of many football personalities that was furious when Raiola was falsely reported to be dead some days before his actual death. 

Whilst the rumours originated in Italy, it spread like wildfire in a short time before Raiola tweeted to dispel the rumours of his death at the time.

In response to this, Balotelli lashed out at journalists who pushed the initial story, calling on them to be 'ashamed.'

'You need to be first huh? Shame on you and seriously be ashamed of your education, respect, values and responsibilities! #StayStrongMino," Balotelli earlier wrote.

Mino Raiola was one of the most respected agents in football, orchestrating Paul Pogba's then world-record return to Manchester United and also the representative of striking prodigy Erling Haaland.