Sporting Lisbon President Claims Contract Granting Man Utd's Marcos Rojo Third-Party Ownership Is Void

Sporting Lisbon president Bruno de Carvalho claims that the contract granting Doyen Sports third-party partial ownership to Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is void.

The aforementioned parties agreed in the past that seventy-five per cent of the rights over the Argentine will belong to Doyen, with €4million as consideration given in favour of Sporting.

However, the 24-year-old's recent move to Old Trafford sparked a battle, as Doyen is now demanding for their share over the £16million transfer profit made by the Portuguese club pursuant to the said agreement.

Carvalho, who revealed that they have already returned the loaned sum to Doyen, is contending that the deal is invalid from the very beginning due to certain violations, such as, initiating Rojo's sale, thus, making it inexistent and unenforceable.

"One of the rules is that the funds cannot be engaging with the management [of players] and not manipulating the management, and they did it," said the Verde-e-Brancos chief.

"That contract means manipulation. It means engagement with the management. It's not a contract - it's null."

For their part, the investment firm denied any wrongdoings and would gladly answer accusations in the proper forum.

"We categorically do not manage or influence the player and we ensure that is written into every contract we have with the club," said a spokesperson.

"This is the first ever issue we have had and it is with a specific president who now wants to renege on a bona fide contract that his club has signed. We welcome taking the matter to court."

"We operate in an open and transparent way and we welcome regulation in this sector."

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