North West law firm wins £7.2m case involving ‘the next Messi’

Liverpool law firm Cassell Moore has obtained a landmark judgement against Palermo, the Italian football club, in a case involving the financial rights of a young player dubbed the ‘next Lionel Messi’.

Cassell Moore obtained the judgement at the Manchester High Court for English football rights firm Pencil Hill Ltd, after the company was owed €6.7m (£5.2m) by Palermo for the sale of Argentina international striker Paulo Dybala’s financial rights.

£30m-rated Dybala currently plays for Juventus but has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester City.

The case surrounded Dybala’s transfer from Argentine club Cordoba to Palermo for €10m in 2012. Pencil Hill Ltd handled the transfer, but said Palermo failed to cough up the €6.7m it owed in registration rights.

Manchester High Court also heard that Palermo were bound to pay Pencil Hill Ltd an additional €1m due to a further agreement in August 2012.

While a clause in the contract caused the amount owed to double to €14.44m (£11m) when the initial payment was missed, the amount was deemed “excessive” and reduced.

As a result, Palermo were ordered to settle a debt of €9.4m (£7.2m) plus interest.

Cassell Moore has confirmed it will now pursue a number of English clubs believed to owe transfer fees to Palermo, as part of its drive to settle Pencil Hill’s multi-million pound bill.

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