Real Valladolid accuses Manchester City of prompting youngster Abdulai Juma Bah to break contract

Real Valladolid accuses Manchester City of prompting youngster Abdulai Juma Bah to break contract

Spanish side Real Valladolid said on Wednesday that Premier League team Manchester City had tapped up defender Abdulai Juma Bah and accused the 18-year-old of breaching his contract.

Valladolid explained on Tuesday that City had messaged asking to open negotiations over a move for the Sierra Leonean centre-back, who later informed the club of his intention to end his contract with it.

Juma paid his release clause to the Spanish football federation, reported to be six million euros ($6.25 million), after not turning up for training on Wednesday, said Valladolid.

“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,” said Valladolid in a statement.

Valladolid said it had rejected higher offers from other clubs and that Juma had refused to sign a new deal above the youth team category, which “would entail an automatic increase in his termination clause”.

Valladolid threatened to take legal action “to exercise its rights and defend its interests”.

Juma has made 12 appearances for Valladolid’s first team after arriving on loan from AIK Freetown last summer, before the Spanish club took up a clause to make the transfer permanent on January 1.