Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is suing the club for ‘in excess of £1m’ due to the handling of an injury he suffered in 2020.
The 27-year-old is still a Premier League player, turning out seven times this season for Burnley, but claims he can no longer play football ‘without pain or impediment’ after a back problem.
The DR Congo is claiming clinical negligence against Manchester United in regards to stress fractures in his spine.
The defender says a fracture suffered in January 2020 became chronic by 2022 and claims that different treatment would have prevented the ongoing pain he is still dealing with.
The initial problem was a left-sided pars fracture and he later suffered a right-sided fracture, which the lawsuit claims could have been avoided.
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Sky News report that the lawsuit says: ‘It is the claimant’s case that the defendant [United] negligently failed to properly investigate the claimant’s pars fractures, failed to rest the claimant and failed to refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon.
‘As a result, the claimant’s symptoms significantly progressed to bilateral grade 4 fractures, and he developed a left-sided chronic spinal fracture.
‘Had the claimant been appropriately rested, his left-sided pars fracture would not have developed into a chronic condition and the right-sided fracture would have been avoided altogether.’
The lawsuit adds: ‘Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have resulted in the claimant avoiding the pain and discomfort set out below and would have resulted in him being able to play professional football at elite level without restriction or impediment.
‘As it is, although he continues to play at an elite level, this has impacted his career and earnings.’
Axel Tuanzebe Premier League stats
Apps: 55
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Tuanzebe is claiming that an ‘appropriate treatment plan’ including a certain amount of rest would have avoided issues he went on to suffer, but this was not done until April 2023.
The centre-back spent loan spells away from Manchester United, including at Napoli and Stoke City, which he claims were impacted by the ongoing pain in his back.
The case has been lodged in London’s High Court.
On his departure from Old Trafford at the end of his contract in 2023, the club posted an emotional farewell message, which read: ‘His departure is an emotional one for the player and many at the club who have known and helped nurture him over the years.
‘A fine character, he leaves United universally respected as a credit to himself and his family.
‘Everyone at the club would like to extend our best wishes to Axel as he embarks upon the next chapter of his career. We would also like to thank him for always representing Manchester United with class and dignity.’
After two seasons with Ipswich Town, Tuanzebe signed for newly-promoted Burnley over the summer to continue his career in the Premier League.
‘It became a very simple decision after speaking to the manager and the message was very clear, precise and straight to the point,’ he said in June.
‘It’s a new chapter for me, back in the vicinity of Manchester and home and I’m ready to continue my journey now at Burnley.’