La Liga club issue strong statement in response to Manchester City and termination of player’s contract ahead of transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City have seen Real Valladolid issue a strongly-worded statement over their actions in relation to a potential deal for 18-year-old centre-back, Juma Bah.

The Premier League champions have long been linked with a move for the player, amid competition from the likes of FC Barcelona and Inter in particular, and have seemingly moved to within a couple of steps of recruiting their man.

That deal will follow two other central defensive talents joining Manchester City’s first-team squad immediately, after the club unveiled the signings of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from RC Lens and Palmeiras respectively.

However, the route being targeted for Juma Bah appears to be slightly different, with officials within City believing that the next best course of action for the teenager is a move elsewhere in Europe, and perhaps to a higher-ranking club in one of the continent’s leading leagues.

In an official statement on the club’s website released on Wednesday afternoon, Real Valladolid have insisted that they have instructed their legal department to begin ‘disciplinary action’ over the conduct of all parties involved in Juma Bah’s move to Manchester City.

“Abdulai Juma Bah and his agent informed Real Valladolid yesterday afternoon of their intention to unilaterally break the contract that binds both parties,” Valladolid confirmed.

“Previously, yesterday afternoon, Manchester City sent a statement asking Real Valladolid to open negotiations for the player for a possible permanent transfer. Today, the Sierra Leonean has decided not to show up at his workplace for morning training.

“For all these reasons, the Club holds the player responsible for the breach of his contractual commitments, and has asked its legal department to initiate disciplinary action in this regard.”

Real Valladolid continued by insisting that Manchester City have forced the player to take the route he has done in refusing to turn up to training, terminating his own contract, all with the pursuit of a move to the Etihad Stadium at heart.

“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, which puts Real Valladolid in a defenceless position, after having recently rejected financial offers of a higher amount, even more so when the player is in the protected legal period of his youth stage and, in recent days, had refused to sign the player’s license with a higher-category Blanquivioleta team, since this would entail an automatic increase in his termination clause. The Club warned the three parties about this situation yesterday through different requests, warning them of the possible consequences of their actions.”

The statement continued, “Juma Bah arrived at the Anexos last summer on loan from AIK Freetown. The loan contract with the Sierra Leonean club ended on June 30 of this season and included a clause for Real Valladolid to exercise a purchase option, a clause that the Blanquivioleta entity exercised on January 1 so that the central defender’s federative rights would belong to Pucela under a new contract of longer duration, and with better conditions.

“The player’s intention, supposedly supported and guided by Manchester City and his agent, has caused great disappointment and indignation within Real Valladolid, who welcomed Juma Bah with open arms and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.

“The Royal Spanish Football Federation has just confirmed that the player has deposited the amount for the unilateral termination of the contract. In this regard, Real Valladolid reports that it reserves the right to resort to the appropriate legal and sporting jurisdictions to exercise its rights and defend its interests.”

For now, it remains to be seen what are the next steps being taken, however the situation remains that Manchester City are close to finalising a deal for the Sierra Leone rising star, and a move to RC Lens on loan for the remainder of the season continues to be discussed.