Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is facing problems in the United States after allegations were made against him that he may have misled a court in Pennsylvania , The Sun reports.
Iheanacho, 20 , is embroiled in legal battles with his previous representatives , American -based First Eleven Management , after pulling out of a contract with them two years ago to sign with Stellar , who look after Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale .
Iheanacho filed pleadings that denied he knew or spent time with Henry Galeano , who separately claims he is his former agent .
The Nigerian — who is expected to move to Leicester this week after undergoing his medical on Tuesday — claimed he believed Galeano was an alias used by First Eleven Management co - owner Robert Zanicky.
New Yorker Galeano was the company’s registered Fifa - licenced agent .
SunSport and the American court have been handed a series of photos and documents that will require an explanation from the Super Eagles forward .
The crucial legal question for Iheanacho will be whether he did more than merely meet Galeano or happened to be with him on occasions . It certainly seems clear they at least met.
Galeano is pictured by his side as he signed a new Manchester City contract shortly after his 18 th birthday in October 2014 .
Other photos show Iheanacho seemingly having fun with Galeano and Zanicky in a restaurant as well as at a theme park .
The legal position is further complicated because Galeano — in a signed and sworn affidavit submitted to the court — claims he spent “ hundreds of hours ” with the player .
Under Pennsylvania Law , if it is found Iheanacho knowingly tried to mislead the court, he could be charged with unsworn falsification — which , if found guilty, carries a penalty of up to two years in prison .
And with an impending £ 25 m move to Leicester on the cards , his new club will want assurances that his case in the US is being properly handled and will not become a ticking time- bomb .
In his court affidavit, Galeano said, “For the avoidance of doubt, Iheanacho and I have spent hundreds of hours together . ”
He also added, “Robert Zanicky never used my name as an alias . ”
Galeano claims he became Iheanacho ’s official FIFA- licenced agent in July 2013 after both men signed a Representative Agreement .
Spokesman for the Nigeria Football Federation Ademola Olajire urged both parties to settle the issue out of court .
“We don’ t have comments on the issue , ” Olajire told our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment