Chelsea chase compo claim against Mutu
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is prepared to give evidence in court to bolster the club’s compensation claim against disgraced striker Adrian Mutu.
The Premiership club are seeking to make legal history by suing the Romanian for damages and are understood to have filed their claim with the FA Premier League.
The landmark case is set to be heard at the end of the month with Chelsea seeking compensation from the player based on his transfer value, and sporting sanctions against him under article 42 of FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players.
Mutu, 26, was sacked by Chelsea last October after testing positive for cocaine in a random drug test ordered by Mourinho.
The striker was subsequently banned for seven months but has agreed to play for Italian giants Juventus when the suspension is lifted on May 16.
Chelsea will claim that Mutu repudiated his contract because of persistent misconduct and if the FAPL decide Chelsea have a case, they will hand the matter over to FIFA to determine the level of compensation and the nature of any further sanctions on the player.
Now Mourinho is ready to go to a hearing if requested after providing Chelsea’s lawyers with a statement about his relationship with the Romanian during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho said: “I gave a statement about my relationship with the player during the months we worked together.
“That is the statement that goes to court. If they need me as a witness to say what I felt during this period, of course I have to go.
“But what Adrian is doing now is not my problem.”
While Mutu is the target of Chelsea’s claim, any compensation would be paid by Juventus who announced they had signed the player during the January transfer window.
