Iván Mauricio Arboleda is increasingly far from resolving his future, days after the European market closes and involved in a legal dispute with Rayo Vallecano of Spain, owner of his sports rights.
The mess has, like everything, two versions: the player assures that the Spanish club deceived him: “when I arrived I realized that the contract numbers were not the agreed ones, that’s how it was, so I decided to look for another club to be able to compete and the Rayo Vallecano agreed with Newell’s. I was forced to give up certain money to get to Newell’s,” he said in a statement.
The goalkeeper recounted his journey as follows: “Unfortunately, I did not receive what was agreed between the clubs and I only received 20% from Newell’s for my maintenance in Argentina during those six months and in which I was forced, after the tour with the Colombian National Team, to ask the president of Newell’s for permission and go to Rayo Vallecano to claim my salary, as I was entitled to. I had no response and returned to Argentina to fulfill my contract until June 30 of this year”.
And then came, according to him, the worst: “When I returned to Madrid, the leaders of Rayo Vallecano treated me as if I were a criminal, they disrespected me and I have been living on my savings for almost two months. I had no other way out than to ask to be released to be able to continue exercising my sporting profession”.
Lightning’s harsh response
However, the other party has its own version: “Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, SAD, categorically denies the allegations made by the player Iván Mauricio Arboleda in his statement dated August 26, 2022 and frontally rejects the requested contractual termination dated August 22, 2022”, referring to the demand that the Colombian filed with FIFA to be a free player and look for a new club.
And he went directly to the threat: “The Club has asked Mr. Arboleda to reconsider his unjustified contractual resolution and fully comply with his contractual obligations with the Club. However, if he persists in his breach, he will have to face sporting sanctions and to the payment of the compensation agreed in each and every one of the contracts both with Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys and with this entity, including the payment of the termination clause provided for in their employment contract,” he warned. In other words, for the club, where Falcao also plays, not only is there no debt with Arboleada, but he is the one who should pay him for the breaches.
“The Club has put this case in the hands of its legal services and, consequently, will not make any further comments. All the rights of Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, SAD, against the player and against any third party that contracts with the aforementioned professional athlete , are expressly reserved,” he added, making it clear that the club that wants to rescue the goalkeeper will end up in a new lawsuit.
In the midst of the crossing of accusations and warnings, the footballer is the one who suffers the most because he has no way to play until the case continues in FIFA or both parties reach an agreement, which could take months.
