Axel Tuanzebe, the former Manchester United defender, is suing his old club for alleged clinical negligence related to medical advice he received during his time at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old, who currently plays for Burnley, lodged a claim in the High Court on July 9, with the lawsuit reportedly linked to "medical advice".
Tuanzebe's career at Manchester United was plagued by injuries, limiting his first-team appearances to just 37 despite joining the club's academy at the age of eight. He progressed through every youth level, even captaining the Red Devils at various stages, marking him as a promising defensive talent. However, recurring injury problems hindered his progress and ultimately led to his departure on a free transfer in 2023.
His injury woes began in October 2019 when he suffered a hip injury during the warm-up before a match against Liverpool. He was then sidelined for the rest of the season after sustaining another injury in a Carabao Cup victory over Colchester in December. A foot injury prevented him from starting the following campaign, and he had another extended absence at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
The specific details of the alleged negligence remain unclear, but the claim is reportedly related to a period from July 2022 involving an injury he had at the time. It is considered a high-value claim, understood to be more than £1 million.
After leaving Manchester United, Tuanzebe joined Ipswich Town, where he made over 40 appearances and helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2023/24 season. Despite battling more injuries, he established himself as their first-choice right-back. In October, Tuanzebe even required surgery after cutting his thumb while washing up, causing him to miss four matches. He then joined Burnley on a free transfer last month after declining a new deal at Ipswich.
Manchester United has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. Representatives for Tuanzebe have also refrained from commenting.
Despite the injury setbacks, Tuanzebe showcased glimpses of his potential at the senior level, including a notable Champions League performance against Paris Saint-Germain where he effectively contained Kylian Mbappe. His time at Old Trafford also included loan spells at Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stoke City.
