The transfer of Carlos Tevez to Manchester United has taken a fresh twist, with the news that an arrest order has been issued for his agent, Kia Joorabchian.
A federal judge in Brazil has charged Joorabchian with money-laundering and being part of a criminal gang, for the role he played in the relationship between Media Sports Investment (MSI), and the Brazilian club Corinthians.
Joorabchian has maintained his innocence throughout.
“The (MSI) transactions are carried out with the use of numerous offshore accounts which have the single and well-known intention of distancing the investor and the illicit origin of the resources from their final destination, in this case the purchase and sale of (football) players,” the federal attorneys Silvio Luis Martins de Oliveira and Rodrigo de Grandis are quoted as saying on Brazilian legal website consultor Juridico.
Corinthians president Alberto Dualib is the subject of a detention order, along with Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, whose money is thought to have backed MSI.
News of the arrrest warrant comes amid claims that Tevez will complete his move to Manchester United in the next few days.
In a statement Joorabchian said: “On Tuesday Tevez will fly to Britain for a medical at Old Trafford as part of the process of his transfer to Manchester United. MSI is considering making an application to Fifa to request that they mediate in the dispute. It is our understanding that all parties involved in the transfer are now satisfied the administrative issues will be settled in the next few days.”
