Real Mallorca have launched a legal challenge against Newcastle United over a fee for winger Jonas Gutierrez.

The Journal says Gutierrez's switch to Newcastle has whipped up a storm of controversy in Spain as both Mallorca and Argentina side Velez Sarsfield claimed to hold the player's registration and both insisted they were owed a fee by the Magpies.

However, United officials have refused to pay either club as they believe the winger was a free agent when they signed him after he walked away from his contract with the La Liga side to facilitate the move.