Bizarre and shocking – Ivory Coast international abducted over transfer

A bizarre story has emerged from Turkey, where Christ Inao Ulai's transfer from Trabzonspor to Fiorentina has turned into a full-blown drama. Even Trabzonspor's executives reportedly struggled to believe what had happened, suspecting an attempt to sabotage the agreed deal.

The Ivory Coast midfielder claims he was literally abducted at Istanbul Airport by individuals posing as Trabzonspor representatives. The extraordinary story was first reported by well-connected Turkish journalist Yagız Sabuncuoglu, with astonishing details later surfacing about an alleged plot to derail the multi-million-euro transfer.

Ulai, one of Fiorentina's top transfer targets, arrived in Istanbul on a flight from Abidjan. He was scheduled to meet an official Trabzonspor delegation at the airport before completing the final steps of his journey to Italy. However, before the club's real officials arrived, a group of unknown men approached the player and introduced themselves as Trabzonspor representatives.

Believing they were club staff sent to collect him, Ulai got into their vehicle. According to the midfielder, the situation quickly took a disturbing turn. While driving through Istanbul, the fake representatives revealed their true intentions and began pressuring him.

"There are other clubs interested in signing you. You should reconsider your agreement with Fiorentina," they allegedly told him.

Meanwhile, panic broke out at the airport. When Ulai failed to appear at the agreed meeting point and stopped answering his phone, Trabzonspor officials raised the alarm. After several hours of searching, the midfielder was eventually located and brought back under the club's protection.

But instead of relief, another confrontation followed. After hearing Ulai's version of events, Trabzonspor's hierarchy reportedly reacted furiously, suspecting that the player had fabricated the entire incident because he had changed his mind about moving to Italy at the last moment.

"If you try to pull something like this, we will take legal action against you," the Turkish club's officials reportedly warned the midfielder.

However, the incident did not prevent the Ivory Coast international from completing his move to the Italian club, and he will now wear the Viola shirt.