Dubai: Transfers have become almost as big a talking point in football as the matches themselves. Every summer and winter, fans follow the rumours, speculate over potential signings and wait to see which clubs have secured their next big-name arrival.
But while supporters see the final announcement, the completed medical and the player holding up their new shirt, there is an entire world of negotiations, relationships and behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a transfer happen.
Someone who knows that world better than most is football agent and Dubai resident Saif Rubie, who has spent years working behind the scenes on some high-profile moves in the game.
For Rubie, no two days are necessarily the same, with his role involving constant communication with clubs, players and potential new clients as he looks to identify opportunities across the football landscape.
"It's all about working with clubs and talents that you represent but also identifying potential new targets to work with," he explained.
"There's two transfer windows in football, the summer and winter so you're actively working between windows and seeing what's coming next."
Rubie's journey into football agency began in London, where his previous experience in the city's nightlife and hospitality industry helped him build relationships with some of the biggest names in the sport.
