Obbi Oulare demands 300,000 euros from Hasselt ex-agent after flop transfer to Watford: “No one was waiting for him” (Hasselt)

Neither the agent nor the footballer showed up in person in court in Hasselt on Monday. However, they were represented by their lawyers. The case goes back to the period 2013-2015 or when Souleymane Oulare’s son was 17 or 18 years old. The teenage striker scores well at Club Brugge. At the age of eighteen, he has played thirty matches and found his way to goal seven times. Europe beckons.

The eyes of his Hasselt broker, a former teammate of Souleymane Oulare, and his Luxembourg-based company sparkle. There’s a goldcrest in the wallet. “You can take that literally. This is a classic story of an agent who tries to make as much money as possible from a young footballer,” sighs lawyer Pieter Helsen, who represents Obbi Oulare.

Transfer fee

The preparation in the summer of 2015 is progressing dramatically. Former Club coach Michel Preud’Homme even calls the Champions League qualifying match against Manchester United catastrophic. The striker wants to leave. Especially if Bruges attracts two new strikers with Leandro Pereira and Jelle Vossen. Club’s patience has also run out. Schalke 04 beckons. But ultimately the much-discussed Mogi Bayat managed to lure Oulare to Watford.

Bayat acts on behalf of Watford and Obbi’s Hasselt manager is happy to cooperate in realizing the transfer of 8 million euros. “It wasn’t his dream club. Oulare didn’t know much about Watford either. The reverse was also true. The Watford coach had never heard of Oulare. Nevertheless, it comes to a transfer or the start of a downward spiral for Oulare. He ended up at a club where no one was waiting for him,” Pieter Helsen outlined.

Breaches

What was at stake in the Hasselt court on Monday were commission agreements according to Oulare or payments for guidance according to the broker. “Hidden fees,” says Helsen. The footballer himself would not have known that this was the case. “Originally, his broker in Bruges received 5% of the income. After an improved contract, this increased to 10%. For what? Not for job placement, which is not legally possible for a minor, but for so-called services performed. We dispute that there is guidance.”

Helsen is now demanding more than 300,000 euros for the footballer who currently plays for Lierse Kempenszone in 1B. Money that Watford paid to Brugge, who would then use it to pay for the alleged or otherwise managerial guidance for Oulare. The labor auditor on Monday agreed with the Oulare camp and spoke of a lack of transparency. There was no concrete criminal action. However, a thorough discussion followed about violations of the decree on employment mediation. “I ask you to convict the broker and his company for violations of this,” the hearing officer addressed the judge. This could possibly result in a fine.

Acquittal

Lawyers Renaud Vercaemst and Benjamin Gillard resolutely supported the acquittal of the manager and his company. They claimed that Oulare did receive guidance or much more than just help in concluding his contracts. “Even as far as England he received psychological assistance from his broker, among other things. What’s happening in England? He falls into a slump again, has no discipline and no motivation. After which the contract discussed in detail with him earlier is broken. When the broker then sends his last invoice to Oulare, he changes his story and there is no longer any guidance from him.” A story that now brings all parties to court and will bring them again.

The agent, who now has another job in the football world, is in turn demanding 500,000 euros from Oulare through the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport for unpaid services. “He hasn’t received a cent yet.” Verdict on June 3.