Palmeiras forward Gabriel Jesus has formally apologised after text messages surfaced of the player telling his former agent that he would sooner cancel his transfer to Manchester City than pay Palmeiras president Paulo Nobre a reported 33 percent cut for the deal.
The Brazilian teenager is playing with his home club until the conclusion of the Brazil league's national championship in December after signing with Pep Guardiola's side last month for a reported £27 million on a five-year deal.
"You know how the [Palmeiras] president is. If it were up to me, I would only pay Palmeiras what they are owed. I mean it. But sadly, there are egotistical people in this. I swear. I almost broke off the deal just so that Palmeiras wouldn't get a cut," Gabriel Jesus told his former agent Fabio Caran via text messages, as reported by UOL Esporte.
Caran released the WhatsApp messages amid a court dispute with Palmeiras over the 22.5 percent image rights cut for the player.
"I regret that an excerpt from my conversation with my former agent has been taken out of context, used incompletely and irresponsibly," Jesus told Globoesporte on Monday.
"Sadly, I was duped and manipulated by a person in whom I had placed my trust. Using a particular conversation that was set up with bad intentions just reveals the character of that person.
"It is a shame, but my history with the fans, the Palmeiras front office and president Paulo Nobre -- it is all bigger than this. I have handed the case over to my lawyers and they will take the appropriate measures."
Palmeiras reportedly own 30 percent of the player's image rights while CR Sports, managed by another agent, Cristiano Simões, has the other 47.5 percent in partnership with Jesus.
Caran acted as Jesus' agent until 2014, when the player signed his last contract. Palmeiras allege that according to that 2014 contract, none of the parties involved can negotiate a deal without the club's approval.
Palmeiras also claim that Caran, who is represented by the company of his wife, Naima Ferreira, contracted new partners and violated the terms of the contract. As a result, Palmeiras claim that they are entitled to 52.,5 percent of the $121 million Brazil reals (£28.7m) paid by Manchester City.
According to Palmeiras' lawyers, Caran's company added two new partners after the contract was signed, and thus, they say Caran violated a clause.
This past August, Sao Paulo court circuit judge Flavia Poyares Miranda denied Caran's petition to be awarded a portion of the transfer money until the judicial dispute is resolved.
The two sides are due back in court, although no date has been set.