Real Valladolid, a La Liga club, has accused Premier League team Manchester City of encouraging young defender Abdulai Juma Bah to breach his contract. This accusation comes after the 18-year-old Sierra Leonean centre-back expressed his intention to end his contract with Valladolid.
Valladolid stated that Manchester City had reached out to open negotiations for a potential move for Juma. Following this, the young player informed Valladolid about his intention to terminate his contract.
Juma reportedly paid six million euros ($6.25 million) as a release clause fee to the Spanish football federation after failing to show up for training on Wednesday, according to Valladolid.
Rejected offers and refusal of new deal
Interestingly, Real Valladolid claims it had previously turned down higher offers from other clubs for Juma's transfer. Furthermore, they allege that the player refused an offer for a new deal above the youth team category which would have automatically increased his termination clause.
Real Valladolid released statement:
“The club considers that Manchester City, a member of the City Football Group, is behind the player’s decision, and appears to have advised the player to take this route,”
In response to these events, Real Valladolid has threatened legal action "to exercise its rights and defend its interests". The club is evidently unhappy with both Manchester City's alleged involvement in prompting their player's departure and with Juma's decision itself.
Promising young player
Abdulai Juma Bah is considered one of football’s promising talents. He made 12 appearances for Real Valladolid’s first team after arriving on loan from AIK Freetown last summer before making the transfer permanent on January 1st this year.
The recent controversy surrounding him serves as an example of how complex and contentious player transfers can become in professional football - especially when multiple parties are involved or when there are allegations of contract breaches.
The situation between Real Valladolid, Manchester City, and Abdulai Juma Bah is a developing story that sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts should keep an eye on. The outcome could have significant implications for all parties involved, especially considering the potential legal action threatened by Valladolid. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and adherence to contracts in professional football.
