Atletico Mineiro have hit back at claims that Nicolas Anelka knew nothing about a proposed transfer to the Brazilian club by threatening to pursue him for compensation.
Anelka, 35, posted a video on Facebook on Wednesday morning in which he denied that he had signed with the Copa Libertadores champions.
However, Atletico Mineiro’s president, Alexandre Kalil, has rejected that version of events. Kalil had previously announced the signing of the former West Brom striker on April 6.
"We’re going to demonstrate that there was nothing fanciful [about the transfer] because we signed everything," Kalil told reporters in Brazil.
"We’re going to get hold of FIFA. He’s going to have to pay for everything we spent on travel and accommodation."
Atletico Mineiro announced earlier this week that they had pulled out of the deal after Anelka failed to show up in Brazil.
On Wednesday, Kalil maintained that a visit by Anelka’s brother Claude proved that the story had not been invented.
"If nothing was serious, then the brother is a crook, because he came here and even tackled the subject of his commission.
"But we didn’t pay. The commission should have been paid in part this year and in part next year.
"Usually when the brother of a player is involved -- it’s the experience I had with Ronaldinho in any case -- you think that it’s the real deal."