Man Utd ‘hire lawyers as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to take on Uefa to push Jean-Claire Todibo transfer through’
MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly hired a Swiss lawyer to help bring Jean-Claire Todibo to Old Trafford from Nice.
Uefa rules have blocked United’s pursuit of the Nice defender Todibo as the club’s owners INEOS also own the French outfit.
Ratcliffe has already been handed a favour from the governing body by allowing both clubs to compete in the Europa League next season.
However, the transfer between two clubs under the same ownership has strictly been blocked.
But now Ratcliffe has hired a Swiss lawyer to plead before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
The lawyer in question is a highly regarded expert in the field of international sports and football law.
Ratcliffe voiced his frustrations at Uefa’s ruling that prevents United from signing the 24-year-old centre-back.
The INEOS CEO told Bloomberg: “Uefa said that we can sell him to another club,
“But we can’t sell to United but that’s not fair on the player and I don’t see what that achieves.”
United have not given up hope of signing the France international, Tavolieri claimed.
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INEOS, who bought Nice back in 2019, also purchased a considerable share in the Glazer owned Red Devils last season.
A new centre-back is United’s top priority this summer with Erik ten Hag’s side’s £35m bid for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected.
Todibo’s £29.5m fee is significantly cheaper than Everton’s £70m target price for Branthwaite.
It was reported that the British billionaire is open to selling Nice as he makes Old Trafford his top priority.
Despite Todibo’s impressive season, he was left out of France’s Euro 2024 squad – as there is simply too much competition at centre-back.
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