FIFA Agent Tokos: Maybe it was fate, but all signs show Bozeník was a key target for Sevilla

Two young Slovak players had terrible luck on the final day of the transfer window. Róbert Boženík from Boavista Porto and Peter Kováčik from Podbrezová ultimately did not get their dream moves. Their transfers collapsed at the very last moment – in the final minutes of the winter transfer deadline day. Spanish club FC Sevilla and Italian club Como were both trying to make room for the Slovak players by selling one of their own. But in the end, those deals didn’t go through – and with them, Boženík's and Kováčik's moves fell apart.

"Unfortunately, the final day of the transfer window can be cruel. But the rule remains: if everything isn’t agreed, then nothing is," said experienced player agent Jozef Tokos.

Did you follow both cases?
I mostly followed Boženík’s. Everything was prepared, and his move to La Liga was expected. Sadly, it didn’t happen.

According to multiple sources, Sevilla sent documents for Rafa Mir’s transfer to Valencia – a move that would have cleared space for Boženík – but included changes that didn’t match their verbal agreement. Have you ever seen anything like that?
Not yet, but we don’t know the exact details, and I don’t want to speculate. Generally speaking, the modern world runs on contracts – that’s true in football too. Without a valid contract, a transfer doesn’t happen, because both clubs must upload everything into the FIFA-created TMS (Transfer Matching System), which helps avoid misunderstandings. The contract is fundamental.

We don’t know exactly why the transfer fell through. But if it’s true that the Spanish clubs agreed to one thing verbally and then submitted different terms in writing, doesn’t that look amateurish?
That kind of thing definitely shouldn’t happen. If the entire deal collapsed, it must have been something significant. Agreements only matter based on what’s entered in the TMS. I’ve never encountered anything like this, and I’ve seen a lot.

For example?
When one of my clients transferred to Turkey, he had no player contract – just a form in Turkish. He didn’t have any agreement in a language he could understand. I sat down at the club’s computer and, in under an hour, put together a short contract with a few key clauses. That turned out to be a smart move, because the deal included terms that prevented fines based on subjective reasons.

Subjective reasons? What does that mean for a layperson?
Like when a club fines a player for “poor performance” or similar non-objective reasons.

Is it common for clubs to block a player’s transfer until they have a replacement lined up?
At this level, absolutely. It’s natural. Sometimes you promote a youth player from your academy; other times, you buy someone externally. Any smart club owner protects their business and plans ahead. You don’t take risks; you play it safe. You think about what happens to the team if you let someone go or need to bring in an important player. The fee and Sevilla’s interest in Boženík suggest he was seen as that kind of player.

Do these kinds of failures happen more often on deadline day?
Yes, and statistics prove it. It’s a chaotic day, with extreme pressure. Sellers often delay negotiations to push buyers into a corner. Sometimes it backfires – like in these two Slovak cases.

It’s not just about reaching an agreement. By the deadline – usually midnight – both clubs must submit all documents to TMS and meet every formal requirement. If not, things fall apart like Adrien Silva’s 2017 transfer, right?
Exactly. That’s a perfect example. Silva was supposed to move from Sporting Lisbon to Leicester. The Portuguese registered everything on time, but the English club submitted their documents 14 seconds late. FIFA’s Transfer Matching System rejected the move, stating that formal requirements weren’t met. Why did it happen? Because they were pushing for the best deal and got burned.

Have you ever experienced a last-minute failed transfer yourself?
No. But it’s extremely stressful – for the player, the clubs, and the agent. Everything has to align. You’re working under immense time pressure. The player must agree with the new club, and that club must reach terms with the current one. Often, the player has a deal with the new team, but the two clubs can’t agree. The real solution is to finalize transfers earlier. But that’s not always ideal for the selling club’s business.

How do players and agents handle these last-minute breakdowns?
It’s frustrating when you’ve worked on something and gotten excited only for it to fall through. But in football transfers, the rule is: if everything’s not agreed, then nothing is. Still, we’re professionals – we keep working. Sometimes things don’t happen for a reason. A failed transfer can lead to a better one that changes your career for the better. I don’t know what exactly caused Boženík’s deal to collapse – maybe it was fate. But I believe he’ll get his move eventually.