What was supposed to be a landmark transfer for RC Strasbourg turned into a public relations nightmare after Ibrahima Ba’s move from Famalicão collapsed at the eleventh hour. While club officials claimed a failed medical examination derailed the €20 million deal, the Senegalese defender’s agent has categorically rejected that explanation, accusing Strasbourg of orchestrating a financial deception.
Jusqu’à 100€ reversés en cash sur ton 1er pari !
A contract dispute disguised as a medical setback
Strasbourg’s dream signing of 21-year-old Ibrahima Ba from Famalicão—agreed upon in principle to bolster their defensive line under new boss Hugo Oliveira—suddenly unraveled during final medical checks. The club had outmaneuvered Benfica Lisbon, ready to pay €20 million for the Senegalese center-back, only for the deal to implode at the last moment. Official statements pointed to a failed medical test, but the player’s camp wasted no time in dismissing the claim as baseless.
In a dramatic turn, the defender’s representative took to social media over the weekend to expose what they describe as a coordinated effort to mislead both the public and the player. The agent’s fiery statement accused Strasbourg’s hierarchy of dishonesty, alleging financial trickery lay at the heart of the collapsed agreement.
Financial deception overshadows medical clearance
The agent’s version of events paints a starkly different picture: the medical examinations—lasting five hours—were successfully completed. The player was even preparing for official club photos when, suddenly, the club backtracked. According to the agent, Strasbourg’s sudden concern about Ibrahima Ba’s fitness was nothing more than a smokescreen to justify walking away from a deal they no longer wanted on financial grounds.
«When ‘good’ doesn’t mean ‘cheap,’ problems arise,» the agent remarked, revealing that the club had attempted to slash the player’s annual salary by 33% at the last minute. What was agreed upon in preliminary talks was now being rewritten under the guise of medical concerns. The agent dismissed any doubts about the defender’s fitness, pointing out that Oliveira himself had strongly advocated for the transfer. «If financial fair play rules are about to slap you with a hefty fine, that’s your problem—not ours. Don’t fabricate stories about his health.»
The explosive allegations have cast a long shadow over Strasbourg’s reputation, turning what was meant to be a triumphant acquisition into a cautionary tale of mismanagement and miscommunication in the transfer market.
