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Manchester United are reportedly entangled in a legal dispute with an agent over unpaid fees relating to Axel Tuanzebe’s loan move to Stoke City in January 2023.
Tuanzebe permanently left United in the summer of the same year, following the expiration of his contract. A few months later, he signed for Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town and played a key role for them on their way to Premier League promotion.
The defender joined United’s academy at the age of eight and captained the club at every level. During his time at Old Trafford, Tuanzebe managed 37 senior appearances between 2017 and 2021.
Unfortunately for him, consistently occurring injuries prevented him from nailing down a consistent run of performances and results.
He had loan stints at Aston Villa, Napoli and Stoke City.
According to The Daily Mail, an agent is claiming United owe him money for playing a part in Tuanzebe’s temporary switch to the Championship with Stoke.
“Confidential has learned that United have received legal letters demanding payment from an FA-licensed intermediary claiming to have helped broker Tuanzebe’s loan move from Old Trafford to Stoke City in January 2023.”
“United are refusing to pay and consider the claims baseless. The agent is understood to have reported the matter to the FA citing an alleged breach of their Football Agent Regulations.”
It’s understood that the agent claims he was given assurances by United’s Director of Football Negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, and former Football Director, John Murtough, that his dues would be settled.
However, after conducting investigations, the Red Devils have not found any evidence that the agent was involved in Tuanzebe’s move to Stoke. There is no email trail and United insist that no agreement was struck with the agent regarding the matter. The agent has also failed to provide any evidence supporting his claim.
It’s believed that United “are comfortable” with their conduct throughout the transaction that took Tuanzebe to the Bet365 Stadium.
The Mail explain that it’s not unusual for agents who may have played a minimal role in transfer negotiations to try and insert themselves into deals in an effort to get a huge payday.
The newspaper further states that a different agent claimed they were owed money for helping to get Eric Bailly’s move to Besiktas over the line, but this has already been resolved and Ruben Amorim’s side have not had to make a payment.
United are back in action on Sunday when they take on Tuanzebe’s Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.