Athletic Bilbao accuse Mallorca of paying with a bad cheque

Aduriz-gate has rolled on in Spain as Athletic Bilbao today accused Real Mallorca of trying to pay with a cheque that would bounce when signing striker Aritz Aduriz. Bilbao have also denied that Aduriz had been offered to the club to pay off the remaining debt.

The ordeal has lead to controversy between the two clubs and has been followed by a long statement issued by Athletic detailing the payments, and lack of, by the Islanders. Aduriz signed for Mallorca in the summer of 2008 and Athletic claim the first breach of the payment schedule occurred on the 19th December 2008.

After months of negotiations, deferrals and various other problems following the acquisition of Mallorca by Mateo Alemany, all amounts due up until the summer of 2009 had been paid but without the payment of interest that were due on 30th July 2009, 12th August 2009 and 19th August 2009.

Athletic have stated that this information was published because last Sunday Mallorca CEO Mateo Alemany stated that the only way to pay the remainder of the sums due was for Aduriz himself to return to Bilbao. But the club said “there was no proposal in this sense. In no case was the player offered to us as payment for remainder of the money due.”

Athletic also confirmed that a cheque for £21,400 bounced in January 2010 due to a lack of funds. Because of this, Athletic have reiterated their right to “collect what is owed” and that the situation broke “confidence and good faith in any negotations to find an alternative solution”.

The club have also lodged complaints to UEFA and RFEF.