South Africa back Johan Goosen appears to have made a shock retirement from rugby at the age of 24.
Goosen was voted the French Top 14's best player of last season after helping Racing Metro win the domestic title and reach the European Champions Cup final.
However, the player is seeking to return to South Africa to take up a role as a commercial director, according to Racing, and now questions remain over whether or not he actually intends to follow through and quit rugby.
Goosen had recently extended his deal with Racing to 2020 and in a statement, club President Jacky Lorenzetti said that he believes the 'retirement' may be a way to get out of this contract.
"Johan Goosen, whose contract was re-evaluated less than a year ago, now claims to be able to get rid of it in a fantastic way," said Lorenzetti in a statement.
"He announced today that he had made the unbelievable decision to stop his career as a player and return to South Africa with an alleged jobs as a commercial director.
"We would like to add that the Racing 92 has always largely supported Johan Goosen both morally and financially.
"Even though he has unfortunately demonstrated lately a certain lack of responsibility towards his team-mates, his coaches and more broadly of all the members of his club and his supporters.
"Hopefully he will quickly realise that respect for a contract like that of a given word is the basis of all human and professional relationships."
Lorenzetti added that the club reserves the right to resort to legal action should Goosen insist that he no longer wants to play for the club.
"Racing 92 reserves the right to give such conduct all appropriate judicial follow-up both with regard to Johan Goosen and those who advise him," he said.
