Manchester City have been accused of creating a fake scouting job for a former academy star's father in a bid to sidestep Premier League rules and funnel money to the player's family.
In an attempt to convince Gabriel Fernando Almeida, now 24, to join the club at the age of 14 in 2011, it is alleged that City went to extraordinary lengths to get the player to sign on the dotted line.
According to The Athletic, City may have breached Premier League rules by setting up Almeida's father with a fake role in the academy scouting department as a way of sending thousands of pounds to the player's family.