MARCUS RASHFORD’S Barcelona transfer deal was brokered in part by a darts fanatic agent who played at a World Darts Championship event.
Simon Leaf, of law firm Mishcon de Reya, helped broker Rashford’s loan deal to Barcelona from Man Utd earlier this month.
GettyMarcus Rashford made his escape from Man Utd when he signed a season-long loan with Spanish giants Barcelona[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @danerashfordThe deal was brokered in part by lawyer and darts fanatic Simon Leaf (top right)[/caption]
Leaf, who heads up his firm’s sport and technology division, was drafted in by Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard to help with the financial details.
He has previously worked alongside Premier League clubs, sports stars, and whole nations to provide financial advice and insight.
However, away from the world of glamorous contract deals, Leaf was previously known for his involvement in the world of darts.
While studying at Cambridge University, Leaf participated in a televised darts match against counterparts from Oxford.
Leaf took on Mark Carpenter of Oxford from the 2005 World Darts Championships at Lakeside Country Club in Surrey.
The match was calamitous, with both players at one point becoming stuck repeatedly shooting for double one.
The game dragged on so long that caller Rab Butler had to be brought a chair as the pair fumbled for the final double.
In the end it was Carpenter who found it, adding insult to injury on top of what was already a slightly embarrassing stage appearance for Leaf.
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BBCBoth Leaf and his opponent had shockers on stage as they battled over a double one[/caption]
BBCLeaf took part in a televised varsity darts match between Cambridge and Oxford universities at a World Championship of Darts event[/caption]
Carpenter’s awkward attempt to hug the referee in his relief summed up a rather uninspiring match, a far cry from the sporting royalty that has blessed the stage at Lakeside.
Outside of darts, Leaf has also refereed semi-professional football.
The Aston Villa fan has refereed at National Conference and Premier League U23 level.
Rashford will be thanking all this experience as it helped negotiate his move away from Manchester United after he was frozen out from the main squad by manager Ruben Amorim.
The striker has signed a year-long deal with Barcelona, who have an option to buy him next summer for around £26million.
Amorim has made it clear he will not play for United while he is in charge.
Rashford has been given the No14 shirt previously worn by big names including Johan Cruyff, Thierry Henry and Ronald Koeman.
We revealed that Rashford has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi — and she was with him when he was unveiled by Barcelona.
She took his photo, then moved behind him to take another and seemingly checked his shirt before the Man United exile posed beside a traditional red British phone box.
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