MOROCCAN forward Nabil El Zhar was last night unveiled as Liverpool's latest signing.
The Anfield side were given clearance by FIFA to play the 20-year-old in the reserves' clash with Newcastle United at Wrexham, despite the players's ongoing dispute with former club St Etienne.
The French club are pressing the international governing body for compensation after the Moroccan left to sign a four-year contract at Liverpool in late August.
El Zhar believes he was a free agent but St Etienne insist that, under French regulations, they are due a fee.
FIFA spokesperson Andreas Herren said: "There is a case pending with St Etienne claiming the breaking of a contract. We cannot comment any further at this time."
El Zhar came to prominence at last year's World Youth Championships - where Liverpool also spotted Gabriel Paletta - as the spearhead of a Morocco under-20 team that reached the semi-finals before being beaten by Brazil in the third-place play-off.
The forward, who was born in France, played for the French U18s but fell out with St Etienne after then opting to represent Morocco at international level.
The club were annoyed El Zhar missed a month of the season by playing in the junior African Nations Cup, a tournament in which players aren't obliged by FIFA to attend.
And although El Zhar finished top scorer in the St Etienne junior side with nine goals last season, he felt the time was right to move on.
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