Ex-United Congolese files a £1-million lawsuit against Red Devils for harming his career

Just when Man United's results started improving and when Ruben Amorim's crew went on a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, another off-pitch issue threatens to spoil their joy.

Namely, the Red Devils' child and DR Congo international, Axel Tuanzebe, filed a lawsuit against the Red Devils for harming his career!

According to Sky News, the defender accused the club of "failing to treat an injury 'promptly' and 'appropriately', leaving him with more serious long-term problems." Tuanzebe reportedly sustained stress fractures at the back of his spine - more precisely, bilateral pars fractures.

The player initially suffered the injury in December 2019 in an EFL Cup clash against Colchester, and the issue allegedly became chronic by July 2022. Hence, he "expects to recover damages in excess of £1,000,000".

The lawsuit, which Sky News obtained, states:

"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."

Congolese defender almost lost his thumb doing chores?!

By the end of the 2019/2020 season, Tuanzebe made only one appearance for Man United U23, clocking 90 minutes. However, in the following campaign - his last at Old Trafford - he played 19 matches, which reportedly worsened his condition, as 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."

The lawsuit further claims:

"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."

Hey, Ruben, when will you let the poor guy cut his hair? One day

"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."

Tuanzebe spent 17 years at Old Trafford - nine of which in youth categories - but made only 37 appearances for the Red Devils' senior squad, spending four seasons in total on loans at Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stoke City. When he permanently left his boyhood club in July 2023, he played for Ipswich and currently represents Burnley.

As per Sky News, Man United declined to comment on the matter.