Real Valladolid have launched legal action against their young defender Juma Bah after the player allegedly attempted to force through a move to Manchester City. The Spanish club accused the 18-year-old Sierra Leone-born player of breaching his contract and failing to attend training on Wednesday.
The situation escalated when Bah and his agent informed Valladolid on Tuesday of their intention to unilaterally terminate his contract. The player has since deposited his release clause with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), a move that has prompted strong criticism from his current club.
In a strongly-worded statement, Valladolid directly implicated Manchester City and their parent company City Football Group (CFG) in the controversy. "The club considers that Manchester City, belonging to the City Football Group (CFG), is behind the decision. It seems they have advised the player to take this route, which leaves Valladolid defenceless," the statement read.
The Spanish side's frustration is particularly acute given their recent investment in the player. Bah initially joined Valladolid on loan from AIK Freetown last summer, with the club making the deal permanent on January 1st. He has already made 12 first-team appearances, though notably remained registered with the youth team after reportedly refusing senior registration that would have increased his release clause.
Valladolid expressed their disappointment, stating they had "welcomed Juma with open arms and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime." The club has now instructed its legal department to initiate disciplinary action and reserves the right to pursue the matter through both legal and sporting channels.
Earlier this month, ESPN had revealed CFG's interest in signing the defender, though they weren't alone in their pursuit. While Inter Milan were among other interested parties, sources indicated that CFG had always been the frontrunner to secure Bah's signature.
The future remains uncertain for the young defender, with sources suggesting it's unclear whether he would remain on loan at Valladolid or move to one of CFG's numerous clubs. The City Football Group, which acts as parent company to Manchester City, owns several top-flight football clubs globally, including teams in Australia and the United States.
Manchester City has not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
