Senegalese striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Baba-Diawara-c7137 has signed for Spanish side Sevilla despite Maritimo recently claiming that they hadn’t authorized the transfer.
The 24-year-old has been a revelation at Estádio dos Barreiros after arriving from Jeanne d´Arc in 2007.
Although he took his time in settling in the Primeira Liga, he soon began finding the back of net on a consistent basis after his first season. In the 2008/2009 campaign, he scored 10 times but the following term registered only 9 strikes.
However his position in Liga Sagres was cemented significantly as the forward scored 14 goals and had 8 assists credited to his name last season.
His last few months with Maritimo have been the most prolific he has ever witnessed in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oscar-c28720 Cardozo, with 15 goals to his name.
With his reputation as a prove attacker, several European clubs tried to lure him last summer. Scottish giants Celtic tried to acquire the Senegalese front-man but the move did not materialize due to visa issues.
Sevilla of the Spanish Primera Division expressed an interest in acquiring the mercurial striker and held talks with their Portuguese counterparts over a potential move. However according to Maritimo they never gave the go-ahead in the transfer but Diawara
was still presented at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ramon-c30533 Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
The Lions were outraged by the situation and issued a statement of their own, which revealed that the club had not authorized a switch and that Diawara’s contract at the helm was still in effect.
"http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sevilla-FC-c40484 presented on Saturday morning, in their stadium, Maritimo's player Baba as a new footballer of that Spanish club. This is a situation which Maritimo strongly condemn, because there is no authorization whatsoever for that presentation. This makes
that the 'rules of engagement' which were previously defined have been changed.
The statement also read that the Green-and-Reds that the player wasn’t allowed to sign for a new club, as his contract with Maritimo had still not expired and that his presentation was incorrect.
“Baba was not authorised, and he still isn't, to become a player of Sevilla while he still under a contract with Maritimo. Therefore, he was incorrectly presented, even speaking to Sevilla's TV channel."
However Sevilla have confirmed the move on their official website, which means that the deal must have gone through. But if it turns out that Maritimo are making legitimate claims, then the implications for the La Liga outfit could be dire.
The Portuguese club could report Sevilla’s actions to FIFA and the footballing authority not only have the power to cancel out the transfer but could also slap a hefty fine on Los Rojiblancos if they are found to be guilty of improper conduct.
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