From Transfers to Trouble: The Past of Isak's Agent Revealed

Alexander Isak has dominated the headlines in this summer transfer window. His saga has had media outlets and fans alike captivated and left everyone wondering what will happen next.

The issue has been which information is trustworthy and what is fabricated for cheap clicks. A lot of claims have been made about Isak's stance, but with nothing coming from his mouth, there has been some uncertainty.

This is Isak's Scandalous Agent Vlado Lemic 🇷🇸
- Lifelong ban from Ajax & PSV (Worth looking it up!)
- Leaked files reveals that Abramovich illegally sent 100s of millions to Lemic via offshore companies , in order to bring Matic, Ivanovic & Robben to CFC & bypass FFP #NUFC ⬇️ https://t.co/nyQsb4IkJH pic.twitter.com/1dvkX65Hn8

— Corrupt EPL (@Giniesta10) August 12, 2025

That uncertainty hasn't been done any favours by the somewhat murky past of his agent Vlado Lemic.

The Croat has been involved in several controversies across his time in the professional game, making the footballing world question whether it is Isak himself having the influence, or whether Lemic is the mouthpiece driving the controversial saga into the limelight.

But exactly who is Lemic, and why is he such a controversial figure in football?

The PSV Fallout

Between 1999 and 2008, Lemic had a large hand at PSV Einhoven. He engineered a series of major transfers for the club including big names like Mateja Kezman and Arjen Robben, however in 2007, Jan Reker took over as general manager at the club and tension reached a boiling point.

1/3
Vlado Lemic's sacked/lifelong ban at PSV in 2008 for pocketing profits from transfer deals and claiming "large unspecified sums. https://t.co/369FyQe7cl

— Toon Army Bay Area (@chriscricjourno) August 13, 2025

Lemic and Reker had an explosive row over the handling of transfers, financial transparency and allegations of inflated commissions on transfers.

His access and power over the clubs inner workings had become a massive problem.

So much so that, in 2008, he had been banned from PSV's training ground and banished from the club in general. Following this several of his high profile clients swiftly left the club, further raising eyebrows and reinforcing the severity of the situation.

But the controversy around Lemic was far from done there, in fact it arguably got even worse.

**The Modric Image Rights Affair **

Perhaps the most notorious chapter of Lemic's controversial career so far involves Luka Modric and his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in 2012.

Leaked documents revealed that, often under a front company ran by his brother, Lemic facilitated complex image rights deals which circled millions of pounds into offshore bank accounts.

Pedrag Mijatovic at Casa Milan. He works as an intermediary for famous agent Vlado Lemic who handles the likes of Lovren, Modric and Matic [@AntoVitiello]pic.twitter.com/flW50A8yey

— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) July 1, 2019

The funds were diverted through countries like Bosnia and Luxembourg which allowed them to sidestep tax authorities in Spain keeping a greater sum.

Emails which were uncovered by negotiators exposed how nearly £2million in agent fees was rerouted to said offshore accounts.

Modric faced no lasting consequence for his part in the controversy eventually paying a £1.4 million settlement and earning a suspended sentence.

During the time this tax fraud was occurring, Lemic was not even a registered intermediary with FIFA- but due to his behind-the-scenes role and puppeteering of the situation rather than a forefront role, Lemic was able to get away reasonably scot free.

Even so, his willingness to exploit and abuse these financial loopholes at the head of the elite game continued to be an ugly representation of role in football.

But, once again, Lemic wasn't done there.

The Abramovich Connection

Lemic's dark influence over the elite footballing world continued to rear its head, this time at Chelsea under the tenure of Roman Abramovich.

Investigations uncovered that companies connected to Abramovich made offshore, multimillion payments to companies and organisations linked to non other than Vlado Lemic.

Media in Holland, Croatia & Bosnia have in the past branded Vlado Lemic’s a “maffiametoder” (mafia style).

He has also previously had €7m in hidden payments from then #CFC owner Roman Abramovich.

Shady character?https://t.co/fAACSbvnBr

#NUFC #NUFCfans #Isak #TransferNews pic.twitter.com/TQKFw6jlUu

— Gooner Coach K 🔴⚪ (@CoachKieren) August 2, 2025

Details surfaced by the Cyprus confidential leaks showed an intricate web of offshore accounts used to fund scouts, agents and intermediaries.

These payments were covered up using excuses such as 'scouting services' or 'talent identification' but work done by investigative journalists and financial regulators found that there was no tangible evidence that this was actually the case and the sums were never able to be justified.

This pipeline between Abramovich and Lemic allowed Chelsea dodge FFP scrutiny as the fees wouldn't appear on the clubs books and they could freely retain influence in the transfer market without having to massively regulate spending.

For Lemic the connection to Abramovich was priceless. It allowed him to keep an unregulated grip on the dealings in elite football, giving hi credibility and cash flow- even if the plot did include numerous severly underhand tactics.

Lemic's Current Cohort

Despite all of Lemic's shortcomings when talking about legality, he still finds himself with a hand in professional football.

The previously mentioned Alexander Isak marks the most valuable client of his agent firm. Not only that but there isn't another player who holds a market value over £25m on his books, the next most valuable being Mile Svilar of Roma.

Now, it must be noted that this could well just be a result of reputational fallout due to these previous controversies, but a shift to such a modest client list compared to what has gone before arguably raises even more question marks about what could be going on behind-the-scenes, now he is residing out of the worlds spotlight.

And this is where people are growing increasingly sceptical about the Isak saga and exactly what is driving the current outburst of unprofessionalism.

🎶 Isak is a Geordie, Isak is a Geordie. na na na na🎶

Isak 🗣️ “Areet Wor Kid”#NUFC pic.twitter.com/TYrMMfVJKW

— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) March 30, 2025

Less than three months ago Isak was standing on the stage at Newcastle's Carabao cup parade reciting Geordie lingo to the adoring fans.

Less than two months ago Isak was pictured all smiles at Newcastle's Austria pre-season training camp alongside his teammates...

For a situation to change so drastically and in the manner that it has, question marks must be asked about what is influencing Isak's decision making- It is difficult to believe these are entirely his own admissions.

There is no evidence that this is, in fact, Lemic's master plan to engineer his most fruitful client a move which would see Lemic himself earn a boatload of money in agent fees.

But when diving deep into his shady past and the lengths he has gone to to make money before, it is beginning to become clear that the question should be asked.