A lawyer has assured Chelsea that they will have ‘no legal problems’ keeping Juventus loanee Gonzalo Higuain, despite their transfer ban.
Chelsea’s options to buy Higuain and prolong his loan from Juve have been shrouded in doubt following their FIFA ban on registering new players, but Luciano Ruggiero Malagnini insists their deal for the striker is unaffected.
A lawyer has assured Chelsea that they will have ‘no legal problems’ keeping Juventus loanee Gonzalo Higuain, despite their transfer ban.
Chelsea’s options to buy Higuain and prolong his loan from Juve have been shrouded in doubt following their FIFA ban on registering new players, but Luciano Ruggiero Malagnini insists their deal for the striker is unaffected.
“The decision is already in operation, but it has no retrospective effect in its application,” he told Tuttomercatoweb.
“Technically speaking, exercising an option to buy happens before the start of the transfer window.
“Therefore, Chelsea would have no legal problems with regards to keeping Higuain, which would be a consequence of a deal already set up.”
Malagnini’s comments come amidst confirmation that Maurizio Sarri’s side would take their transfer ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“The Club notes that the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to partially uphold the appeal lodged by Chelsea FC against the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” read a club statement.
“However, the Club is very disappointed that the transfer ban of two consecutive registration periods was not overturned.
“Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Appeal Committee. It acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”