Wanderers have launched a legal challenge against Spanish giants Barcelona for compensation after their deal to sign former defender Marcos Alonso in the summer.

The Bolton News understands that the club believes it is due a solidarity payment as part of the defender’s move to the Nou Camp which – it is claimed – was connected to a separate deal involving ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea signed Aubameyang for 12 million Euros, with Alonso moving in the opposite direction at the start of the season after having his contract terminated at Stamford Bridge.

Fourth-tier Spanish side Union Adarve have already filed a complaint to FIFA challenging the legality of the deal, alleging that it circumnavigated the need to pay money to those teams who had invested in Alonso’s training between the ages of 12 and 23.

FIFA’s rules state that a portion of international transfer fees received for players under contract should be divided between clubs who have contributed to their development.

Wanderers signed Alonso from Real Madrid on July 27, 2010, and he left to join Fiorentina at the end of his contract in May 2013. A compensation fee – reported at the time to be £400,000 – was paid to the Whites by the Italian club, who then sold him for £24million in the summer of 2016.

Alonso played at youth level for Union Adarve, who have lodged a compensation claim for £91,000 amid allegations that the Spain international’s free transfer move was fraudulent.

The complexity of the case means there is unlikely to be a quick conclusion for Bolton, who have now filed the necessary legal paperwork to FIFA and are waiting to see if they can progress.

Alonso, now 32, played 46 times for Wanderers and scored five goals, but has gone on to play nine times for his country, win the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.

 

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