Le Havre dispute Manchester United Pogba claim

United claim Pogba is free to join the club (GETTY IMAGES)

Le Havre have denied Manchester United's claim that Fifa have cleared Paul Pogba to join the Barclays Premier League champions.

The two clubs have been embroiled in a bitter feud over the teenager and the issue appeared to be resolved when United released a statement last night saying they had been authorised by FIFA to register Paul Pogba "with immediate effect".

However, Le Havre insist no firm decision has yet been made by world football's governing body.

"Contrary to what Manchester United state on their official website FIFA have not validated the transfer of Paul Pogba but, as they normally do in this type of case, have issued a provisional international certificate," read a statement on Le Havre's official website, hac.infoceane.com.

"The decision of the international body is therefore a non-event and is normal procedure."

Pogba has been caught up in a battle between United and Le Havre, which appeared to have similarities with the case of Gael Kakuta, which landed Chelsea with a ban on signing players for the next two transfer windows.

Le Havre insist financial inducements had been offered to break a contract, something United immediately denied - citing the fact he did not have a deal in place.

It was a stance reinforced by manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who insisted it has never been club policy to pay the parents of players, as had been alleged.

The Ligue 1 club have vowed to keep on fighting, confirming they will take the case to FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber, and have issued United with a warning over being too complacent on having secured international clearance for the 16-year-old.

The statement added: "This procedure has moreover been followed in cases such as those of (Charles) N'Zogbia or Kakuta and today we know the result of each one of these cases."

N'Zogbia was a Le Havre player when he signed for Newcastle in 2007, although he mistakenly believed he was a free agent.

Le Havre took the player and Newcastle to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and both had to pay the French team a total of £640,000.

United claimed the judge decided Pogba was still an amateur because he had never received anything beyond normal expenses to play for the club.

And, because of his age, Le Havre could not have got an agreement for him to sign a professional contract anyway.

A statement released by the English club last night read: "Manchester United is pleased to confirm that the Football Association has been authorised by FIFA to register Paul Pogba as a Manchester United player with immediate effect."