Man Utd willing to 'take UEFA to court' over Todibo saga

Tom Weber

Updated: 26 Jun 2024 16:32 BST
3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Jean-Clair Todibo, Nice — © IMAGO

Manchester United are willing to take UEFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to force through a move for Jean-Clair Todibo, according to a report.

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The Red Devils' search for a new centre-back has not at all gone to plan. Operating on a restricted budget despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment, Man Utd have thus far been unable to secure the signature of top target Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton.

Additionally, Man Utd have been forced to move on from one of their alternative options for a very different reason. Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the INEOS-backed side had tried to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Ligue 1 affiliate OGC Nice only to have the transfer blocked by UEFA.

Due to Man Utd and Nice competing in the Europa League next season, UEFA rules prohibit the two clubs from doing business with each other. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Ratcliffe expressed his indignation at this.

"They’ve said that we can sell him to another [Premier League] club, but we can’t sell to Manchester United, but that’s not fair on the player and I don’t see what that achieves," the INEOS chief thundered.

Man Utd to take UEFA to court?

Now, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri sensationally claims that Man Utd have hired Swiss lawyer Gianpaolo Monteneri to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

INEOS are ready to take action against UEFA's regulations and will plead in favour of a transfer of Todibo between Nice and Man Utd, it is asserted. It is not yet clear what, if anything, will come of this, however.

It seems a bit odd, though, for INEOS to go through the hassle of trying to force through this transfer considering that recent reports have claimed that Ratcliffe is willing to sell Nice imminently in order to avoid similar complications in the future.

Technically speaking, Nice and Man Utd shouldn't even be allowed to both compete in the Europa League in the first place next season and UEFA are expected to enforce their roles more stringently from 2025/26 onwards.