MANCHESTER CITY’S stars could reportedly walk away as free agents because the club have fundamentally breached their contracts.
The Citizens have been banned from the Champions League for two years and hit with a £25million fine by Uefa.
City have been found guilty of seriously misleading European football’s governing body and breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
Top sports lawyer John Mehrzad has claimed the club have breached the “trust and confidence” of the players’ contracts.
As a result, the stars will be able to walk away from the club for nothing or request improved financials terms in order to stay.
The same would apply for manager Pep Guardiola and his coaches.
Mehrzad is a leading barrister that represents football players, managers, agents and clubs.
And he tweeted: “City arguably has fundamentally breached their contracts, entitling them to walk out of the club or seek improved financial terms to stay.”
City’s stars could argue that the club has acted in a way that has destroyed their ability to play in the Champions League for two seasons.
The lawyer said: “City players could contend that their player contracts have been fundamentally undermined – and resign in response, effectively becoming free agents.”
But Fifa would need to be persuaded that the players had “just cause” to terminate their own contracts with the club.
Mehrzad added: “Their agents can now demand hefty guaranteed payments/renegotiated contracts for players to stay.”
Guardiola’s future at the club is in doubt as the club could miss out on £170million after being booted out of the Champions League.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Mauricio Pochettino has already been tipped to replace him at the Etihad.
And Jermaine Jenas has claimed his former club will now struggle to keep hold of their star players following the decision.
Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “I don’t see how the fans could blame them personally for walking away.
“If it’s a year, I can see somebody like Raheem Sterling saying, ‘I’ll be fine, I’ll stick it out, I’m 26 years old.
“But if De Bruyne, who is 29 years old, as I have said before and the few others, I think a few are going to really, you know.
“I think City will have to accept they are going to lose a few of their stars.”
