Professional footballer Axel Tuanzebe has taken an unprecedented legal step against his former employer – the English giant Manchester United. The twenty-seven-year-old defender officially filed a lawsuit in the High Court related to medical treatment during his time at the club.
The legal claim refers to the period from July 2022 and includes an unspecified sports injury that, according to the player's lawyers, caused significant professional damage. Experts describe the lawsuit as extremely high in value – exceeding 1 million British pounds.
Tuanzebe's career history is marked by serious challenges. The footballer spent a total of 195 days outside the fields during his last season with the team, before being loaned to Stoke in January 2023, where he managed to play only five matches.
An interesting fact is that Tuanzebe is a Manchester United academy graduate, who joined the club as an eight-year-old. His official debut took place in 2017, and he played a total of 37 matches before his final departure in the summer of 2023.
As a young talent, he was captain of the team's various age groups. An emblematic moment in his career was the Europa League final in 2021 against Villarreal, where despite losing on penalties, he managed to score a precise shot.
The player's career also includes several significant loans – three times at Aston Villa and one stay at the Italian giant Napoli in 2022. Currently, Tuanzebe represents the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after previously being part of England's youth squad.
Neither Tuanzebe's law firm – Simmons Muirhead Burton, nor Manchester United's management wished to officially comment on the upcoming court case. This fact further intensifies the intrigue around the lawsuit.
At the moment, the footballer is part of the Burnley team, joining which at the beginning of the current month. His legal challenge against his former club will undoubtedly attract serious media attention in sports circles.
The case raises important questions about medical protocols and care for professional athletes, potentially creating a precedent in British football.