The latest Football Leaks revelations claim FIFA dropped legal action against Juventus for the Paul Pogba transfer, as they feared losing a court case.
The Bianconeri sold the French midfielder to Manchester United in 2016, for what was at the time a world record fee of €105m.
His agent, Mino Raiola, was paid €27m for being an intermediary in the deal, but an investigation was opened to establish whether that constituted third party ownership.
The latest Football Leaks revelations claim FIFA dropped legal action against Juventus for the Paul Pogba transfer, as they feared losing a court case.
The Bianconeri sold the French midfielder to Manchester United in 2016, for what was at the time a world record fee of €105m.
His agent, Mino Raiola, was paid €27m for being an intermediary in the deal, but an investigation was opened to establish whether that constituted third party ownership.
According to the Football Leaks documents published by Mediapart and Der Spiegel, Topscore Sports Limited – Raiola's company – signed a contract with Juve on July 20, 2016.
That alleged contract noted that the agent had boosted Pogba’s profile, and should therefore be compensated were there to be a “bidding war”.
In the contract, Juve set a minimum price of €90m for their prize asset, with Raiola to receive a fixed amount of €18m for his services.
For every €5m above the minimum though, Raiola was to earn an additional €3m.
Mediapart claims that amounted to giving him part of Pogba’s ownership, and FIFA’s report, using its Transfer Matching System, alleged that Juventus violated regulations.
The fine would have been just 65,000 Swiss francs, around €57,000, but the case was dropped as FIFA’s own rules were deemed to vague to stand up in court.
Had Juventus challenged it, the governing body feared losing in court.
In addition, reports Der Spiegel, Raiola was at the same time working for Manchester United to ensure the transfer of Pogba.
Effectively, it is alleged, he was tasked with generating the highest possible fee for Juventus – and therefore himself, if the allegations about his commission above €90m are true – while also protecting the interest of his client and Manchester United.
Ultimately, it is claimed, Raiola made a further €22m from Manchester United for a total €49m.
FIFA has no jurisdiction over Raiola, having transferred authority for agents to the member associations in 2015.
In England agents are permitted to represent all three sides in a transfer, as long as all parties are aware of the arrangement. As long as that was the case Raiola did nothing illegal.
Der Spiegel alleges though that Manchester United may have been unaware that Raiola was also working for Juventus. The agent himself denies this.
Juventus and Manchester United both refused to comment when contacted by Der Spiegel, while Raiola reserved his right to take legal action.
None of the parties involved have ever been found guilty of any wrongdoing in the transfer of Paul Pogba.