How Wasserman Pushed Newcastle to Overpay for Bamba to Fund Abline Transfer

Newcastle allegedly paid Aladji Bamba twice his real price to allow Monaco to complete the transfer of Matthis Abline from Nantes. This is revealed by journalist Romain Molina, who describes in a recent video the inner workings of a scheme orchestrated by the Wasserman agency.

It all started with a disagreement between Monaco and Nantes. AS Monaco offered between 15 and 20 million euros for the Nantes striker, while club president Waldemar Kita demanded 30 to 35 million. The impasse seemed total. Wasserman, which represents Abline, then looked for leverage elsewhere.

The agency has a significant presence at Newcastle, where it manages the interests of several players — Hall, Livramento, Barnes, Murphy — as well as those of former manager Eddie Howe. It learned that the Magpies were in talks with Monaco to sign Aladji Bamba, whom the Principality club was willing to sell for 20 to 25 million euros. Wasserman’s idea: convince Newcastle to raise its offer to 40 million euros, on the condition that Monaco commits to reinvesting this additional sum on Abline.

The English club agreed and paid 40 million euros for Bamba. Monaco kept its promise and offered 25 million euros fixed, plus 5 million in bonuses, to FC Nantes. For Waldemar Kita, it was the biggest sale in the club’s history. For Newcastle, it was a bill inflated by approximately 15 to 20 million euros for a player whose market value was far lower.

Molina published this revelation as part of his investigation into the failed transfer of Lamine Camara from Monaco to Chelsea, in which Wasserman is also mentioned. The journalist notes that the agency now operates under the name The·Team, renamed after its founder Casey Wasserman’s name appeared in files related to the Jeffrey Epstein affair. Wasserman still runs the structure, which is active in sports, music and entertainment, and also chairs the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.