The prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, admits he tried to help McDonald Mariga win a UK work permit.
Manchester City were forced to shelve hopes of signing the former Parma midfielder after seeing his work permit application rejected by the Home Office. The Kenya international eventually signed for Inter Milan.
"I did everything together with the British High Commissioner to obtain a work permit," said Odinga. "I spent three hours on the phone with the office of Gordon Brown, the office of Africa, that of Culture and Sports and also Mariga."