Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has launched a landmark £1 million lawsuit against his old club, alleging clinical negligence in their handling of a spinal injury that he claims has permanently affected his playing career.
The Allegations: A Career Forever Changed
Legal documents filed at London's High Court and obtained by Sky News reveal the 27-year-old Congolese international, now at Burnley, alleges United's failure to treat his injury "promptly and appropriately" has left him unable to play football "without restriction or impediment".
The case represents an unprecedented legal challenge against a Premier League club's medical department, shining a stark spotlight on player welfare protocols at the highest level of English football.
Timeline of Negligence: From Initial Injury to Chronic Condition
The lawsuit centres on stress fractures to the pars region of the spine - injuries the British Association of Spine Surgeons confirms footballers are particularly vulnerable to developing.
According to court documents, Tuanzebe initially sustained a left-sided pars fracture in January 2020 following a hamstring injury during a League Cup match against Colchester United in December 2019.
The legal claim states that United negligently failed to properly investigate the fracture, rest the player adequately, or refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon at this critical stage.
Instead of the recommended 12 weeks of rest, Tuanzebe was back playing for United's development squad by March 2020 and returned to first-team action in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain in October 2020.
By July 2022, the initial injury had developed into chronic bilateral grade 4 fractures, with the lawsuit alleging the right-sided fracture would have been "avoided altogether" with proper treatment.
Missed Opportunities and Deteriorating Condition
The legal filing highlights several key moments where United's medical team allegedly failed to act:
- In December 2020, when Tuanzebe reported recurring hamstring pain, the lower spine was not imaged despite earlier concerns
- During his loan spell at Napoli in January 2022, when the Italian club's scans suggested a potential stress fracture but United's Dr Steve McNally reportedly dismissed concerns
- The period from August 2022 when, despite diagnosis of a stress fracture, Tuanzebe was allowed to continue training intensively
The lawsuit claims an "appropriate treatment plan" was only implemented in April 2023 - more than three years after the initial injury.
Career Consequences and Financial Impact
An academy graduate who spent 17 years at Old Trafford, Tuanzebe left United in 2023 when the club declined to trigger a one-year contract extension following loan spells at Napoli and Stoke City.
Although still playing in the Premier League with Burnley, the legal documents state the permanent nature of his spinal condition has significantly impacted his career trajectory and earning potential.
The player "expects to recover damages in excess of £1,000,000" according to the Particulars of Claim document signed by Tuanzebe on 27th October.
Manchester United have declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, which represent one of the most significant medical negligence cases ever brought by a professional footballer against his former club.
