Tuanzebe sues MU

Axel Tuanzebe is seeking over £1 million in compensation, claiming that Manchester United mishandled a serious spinal injury that severely impacted his career.

Tuanzebe sues MU for medical negligence.

According to documents obtained by Sky Sports , the 27-year-old center-back accuses Manchester United of shortcomings in medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, which allegedly caused his back injury to become chronic.

Tuanzebe joined the Red Devils' academy at the age of 8, was named Young Player of the Year in 2015, and made his first-team debut in early 2017. Despite making a strong impression in several big matches – such as his tight marking of Mbappe in the Champions League – his career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries.

The lawsuit centers around the "pars fracture"—a type of fatigue fracture in the lower spine—that Tuanzebe suffered in January 2020. He claims that the Manchester United medical team did not allow him to rest, did not refer him to a specialist, but instead allowed him to continue training and playing. As a result, the injury worsened, leading to a "grade 4 bilateral fracture" and chronic pain.

According to records, just three months after his initial injury, Tuanzebe was allowed to return to the youth team, then played for the first team in October 2020. When Napoli conducted a medical examination upon his move to Serie A in 2022, Italian doctors discovered a long-standing spinal fracture and vertebral arthritis – signs that the injury had been present for some time.

Tuanzebe was once considered a talented central defender at MU.

However, Manchester United's then-chief doctor – Steve McNally – allegedly downplayed the risk of injury. He believed it was merely a postural disorder or mild inflammation that did not require surgery. McNally left the club at the end of 2022 after 16 years of service and was specifically named in the lawsuit.

The player, currently on Burnley's books, claims that if properly diagnosed and treated in 2020, he could maintain a top-level career without physical limitations. Tuanzebe stated that he will only be able to undergo the appropriate treatment plan in April 2023 – three years later.

Despite still playing in the Premier League, the Congolese defender claims his income and career opportunities have been severely affected by the long-term medical consequences.

MU declined to comment on the matter, while experts believe this could be one of the rare medical lawsuits involving a player from a top English club, setting a notable precedent for the relationship between clubs and players in injury treatment.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuanzebe-kien-mu-post1602317.html