Ex-United star sues club for eye-watering sum as shocking new details of legal battle emerge – report

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is suing the club for £1million in damages over alleged “clinical negligence” in relation to “medical advice” he received during his time there. Tuanzebe sues United In July this year, a report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Tuanzebe had launched legal action against United, alleging “medical negligence” relating to an injury sustained in or after July 2022. Tuanzebe, who spent 17 years at United before his departure as a free agent in the summer of 2023, lodged his legal claim at the High Court. News on that front has been quiet but now, some shocking revelations have been made, detailing the extent of Tuanzebe’s grievances against his boyhood club. Court documents seen by Sky Sports have revealed that the crux of Tuanzebe’s claim is that the Red Devils mishandled his injury, which has since prevented him from playing without discomfort and impacted both his career and earnings. Fresh details emerge regarding Tuanzebe’s claim against United The Burnley star “expects to recover damages in excess of £1million” if he wins the legal battle against United. The documents reveal that the primary allegation centres on a left-sided pars fracture – a stress fracture injury to the lower spine – that took place in January 2020. It’s alleged that the issue aggravated in July 2022 when Tuanzebe pcked up the same injury on the right side of his spine. Documents show that the player was left in “significant pain and discomfort since their development and deterioration.” The lawsuit notes, “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.” Tuanzebe and his legal representatives further claim, “The defendant [United] 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.” It’s understood that if Tuanzebe had been referred to a specialist, he would have been sidelined for up to 12 weeks. However, after the injury in January 2020, the 27-year-old was back in action or United’s youth team by March 2020 and the first team in October. In December of the same year, Tuanzebe told United he was dealing with hamstring pain from sprinting. But, the lower spine “was not imaged on this occasion.” The lawsuit says, “By allowing the claimant to train and play as normal from February to March 2020 and thereafter, he suffered more serious symptoms than he would have if he had been diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately with rest.” During a loan stint at Napoli, the Serie A giants sent Tuanzebe for scans, but then United senior doctor Steve McNally is said to have insisted there was “no urgency” for the player to return to England for further examination. Dr McNally is also alleged to have informed Tuanzebe that the issue was “most likely” not a stress problem but instead a disc irritation or change in posture mechanics, which typically resolves with physiotherapy rather than being serious. The lawsuit states that a CT scan led Dr McNally to rule out a stress fracture, suggesting an “inflamed facet joint between the vertebrae” as the alternative diagnosis. Napoli’s doctor identified a potential stress fracture, described as a “chronic incomplete lysis of the isthmus of L5 with intact superior cortical profile.” When this was put to De McNally, he dismissed it, remarking that it had already been spotted from a 2017 CT scan. The lawsuit adds that Tuanzebe believes the spinal problem would not have become chronic on his left side, nor been triggered on the right side, had United handled the case differently. Tuanzebe played 37 times for United. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!