Cheick Doucoure, who signed with Crystal Palace this summer, has committed to taking legal action against the parties involved.
What did Cheick Doucoure’s lawyer say?
French manager Patrick Vieira didn’t say a word to express his support for the Eagles’ new signing of the Malian footballer, whose lawyer has alleged blackmail and extortion attempts by several parties linked to his transfer. The Malian midfielder joined Crystal Palace from Lens for €22.5m, plus €5m in bonuses, however his lawyer says the player has been under pressure since shortly after his arrival in England was announced. Cheick Doucoure and his agent allegedly received extravagant demands from intermediaries to recover money from his transfer.
Doucoure’s attorney, Alexis Rutman, claims the middlemen told them they would show false evidence that Cheick had a dual personality unless they received significant payments. In a statement released with the support of the Eagles and the Malian Football Federation, the Malian player and his entourage explained that they were the victims of blackmail and an attempt to extort funds from several concerted parties, apparently generated by the profit allegedly generated by this transaction.
In the same document provided by Alexis, Cheick Doucoure and his agents condemned the use of false evidence that would allow these individuals to claim that the player has dual citizenship. Alexis Rutman wrote that they are demanding a sum of money in exchange for their silence.
According to the lawyer, several Whatsapp messages in this regard, accompanied by false documents, were sent to his client and his entourage over the past few days. This situation is very serious and clearly unacceptable.
Cheick and the Blackskill agency have already planned both criminal and civil lawsuits against these individuals and have asked for people to support or convey in any form such acts and/or such defamatory allegations.
What did the Crystal Palace manager say?
Crystal Palace head coach Patrick Vieira threw his weight behind the Malian player and condemned the incident. During a press conference ahead of their pre-season clash with Man Utd on Tuesday in Australia, the manager said he spoke to him and a lawyer. According to Patrick Vieira, of course, he and the club, they fully support the player. Patrick says that this is what Cheick Doucoure as a player and they as a football club they cannot accept.
Ex-player Lens was a priority signing for Patrick as he wanted to plug the gap left by Conor Gallagher, who returned to the Blues after a season loan spell at Selhurst Park.