Man. United To Face Transfer Scrutiny

Fifa has revealed that Fiorentina have been in contact with them about Manchester United's signing of 16-year-old defender Michele Fornasier.

The Italian club have made initial contact with football's governing body but no formal complaint has been made.

United are confident of their legal position and that Fornasier was not contracted to Fiorentina when he was signed by the Red Devils this year.

"We can confirm that Fiorentina have contacted us," said a Fifa spokesman.

"Fifa were contacted by Fiorentina with regard to the potential transfer of the player, Michele Fornasier, to Manchester United.

"However, so far no formal investigation was opened since the relevant documentation still needs to be completed. Only then will we be in a position to evaluate possible future steps to be taken."

It is the second time this week that Manchester United have been in the news regarding their transfer dealings involving young European footballers.

On Monday, United threatened to sue French club Le Havre over repeated allegations about the signing of 16-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba.

The French club claim United offered financial inducements to Pogba's family in order to lure the teenager to Old Trafford.

Fiorentina are similarly disappointed at losing out on one of their brightest young defenders, who is also the Italian Under-16 captain, and have since written to Fifa.

The news comes in the wake of a transfer ban imposed on Chelsea earlier this month for a similar infringement of the rules.

Chelsea have been banned from signing any new players until January 2011 after the club was found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Manchester City have this week also been accused by French club Rennes of unlawfully signing 17-year-old defender Jeremy Helan.

Players from European Union countries are able to move to Britain on academy or scholarship contracts at 16, and to sign full professional contracts at 17.

By signing a player under the age of 18, the buying club minimises the level of compensation the selling club will get.

Fifa were unable to say whether there were more cases involving English clubs pending, but acknowledged that the current publicity surrounding the caes of Kakuta, Pogba and Helan might lead to further complaints being registered over the coming days.