Man City accused of encouraging young defender to break contract

Manchester City have been accused of encouraging a young player to terminate his contract so as to force a move to the Premier League club.

City are currently active in the January transfer window as Pep Guardiola hopes to revive their season. Having been linked with various players, Real Valladolid have accused the Manchester club of encouraging one of their players to break his contract.

Valladolid defender Juma Bah told the Spanish club on Tuesday that he intends to terminate his contract, allowing City to sign the player for a much lower fee.

Juma Bah Abdulay of Real Valladolid CF looks on during the LaLiga match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Valladolid CF (Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

City had sent a request to Valladolid earlier in the day asking to begin negotiations over a permanent deal for the 18-year-old, Valladolid said in a statement.

Bah then did not turn up for training on Wednesday, with the Spanish Football Association confirming he had deposited the necessary amount to terminate his contract.

Valladolid say the teenager’s decision was “supposedly supported and guided by Manchester City and his agent” and has “caused great disappointment and indignation”.

“The club considers that Manchester City is behind the player’s decision, and appears to have advised the player to take this route.”

Bah joined Valladolid on a season-long loan from AIK Freetong in his native Sierra Leone last summer and the club exercised a clause earlier this month to turn it into a permanent deal.

But Bah is still under a youth contract and has so far refused to sign a senior deal that would significantly increase his release clause.

Valladolid say they will take disciplinary action against Bah and will do whatever they can to “defend” the clubs’s interests.