CITY REPORTED OVER HELAN CAPTURE

Rennes have confirmed they have reported Manchester City to FIFA over the signing of French youngster Jeremy Helan.

City snapped up the teenage defender earlier this year after he reportedly opted against seeing out his first professional contract with Rennes.

The Clairefontaine academy player had been wanted by Manchester United in 2008, but the Ligue 1 outfit dug in their heels over his departure.

With the Red Devils out of the picture City moved in, much to the anger of Rennes who claim his pre-contract agreement tied both him and the club to a contract if he represented France at youth level.

If found guilty of inducing a youngster to break a contract City could find themselves in hot water after Chelsea were banned from signing new players until January 2011 over their pursuit of Gael Kakuta

Although Rennes' technical director Pierre Dreossi does not expect a decision to be made soon, he is hoping City are punished.

The Blues are understood to be adamant in their belief they have not induced a breach of contract in a case which is further complicated by the fact that Helan and Rennes are at odds, legally, over what he initially signed up to.

"Manchester City must now realise the consequences of their attitude in the Helan case as it is even more illegal than Kakuta," Dreossi told The Independent.

"We have referred this to FIFA. For us it was strange to have no discussion from City and now, in the week after the FIFA declaration on Chelsea, I would hope that it will be the same thing for Manchester City.

"Kakuta signed up for just a possibility of a full contract. For Helan there was definitely one there, under the terms of the pre-contract agreement, because he had played for his country.

"Manchester United said it was not possible to negotiate with us but for City now this is dangerous, though we are not expecting a decision from FIFA for perhaps several years."