Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe, now playing for Burnley, has filed a £1 million lawsuit against his former club, accusing them of clinical negligence in handling his injuries during his time at Old Trafford.
According to Sky News, court documents reveal that Tuanzebe claims the medical treatment he received at Manchester United left him unable to perform “without restriction or impediment.” The 27-year-old centre-back alleges that the club’s failure to provide proper medical care worsened his condition, impacting both his career longevity and earnings potential.
The case focuses on a left-sided pars fracture—a stress fracture in the lower spine—first sustained in January 2020, which reportedly caused Tuanzebe “significant pain and discomfort.” A similar right-sided injury in July 2022 is also part of the claim.
Tuanzebe’s legal team argues that Manchester United failed to provide adequate rest periods and did not refer him to a specialist spinal surgeon. The documents further state:
“Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have prevented the claimant’s pain and allowed him to continue playing professional football at an elite level without restriction.”
Instead, the defender reportedly developed bilateral grade 4 fractures and a chronic spinal injury, which he claims could have been avoided with proper rest and specialist intervention.
Tuanzebe, a product of Manchester United’s academy, spent 17 years at the club before departing in 2023. Despite showing promise after his senior debut in 2017, his time at United was plagued by recurring injuries, including a season-ending setback in December 2019 during a Carabao Cup match against Colchester United.
While Tuanzebe continues his career at Burnley, his legal team insists that the injury mismanagement has diminished his professional capabilities.
Manchester United has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
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