Modest Gateshead office block at centre of £2m legal battle between Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini and sportswear giant New Balance

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is taking action against American sportswear giant New Balance in a row over what the Belgian claims were “defective” boots which he claims had an “impact on performance”.

LANDMARK: Coburg House in Gateshead, home to Rosalina Investments UK (Ltd). Picture: GOOGLE

In legal papers submitted to the High Court in London, the Old Trafford star claimed the boots had to be ''steamed and stretched'' by a United kit man before he could wear them.

In a case which has made headlines throughout the sporting world, New Balance said it could not comment on pending litigation but confirmed: “the company plans to vigorously defend itself and its longstanding record of manufacturing excellence”.

The footballer is being represented in the action by the company Rosalina Investments, which has addresses in the British Virgin Islands and an unassuming office named Coburg House, just outside Gateshead town centre.

The brick-built building, which is also home to an unconnected accountancy firm, is the registered headquarters of Rosalina Investments UK (Ltd), which since 2014 has had two directors: the Manchester United star and Frans Cobbaert, a 63-year-old Belgian auditor.

The premises at the centre of the landmark legal dispute stand at the end of Coburg Street, a quiet residential terrace overlooking the playing fields of a catholic primary school and, across the bypass, a giant Matalan store. The street is probably best known for its minor role as a set location of a boarding house used by the main character in the 1960s film Get Carter.

Rosalina Investments, is seeking compensation for the loss of an annual retainer, the loss of bonus payments and the ''loss of enjoyment, inconvenience and impact on performance by reason of the defective quality of football boots provided".

Solicitor John MacKenzie, from law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, says the number of commercial disputes centred on sports stars is growing.

"There is no doubt that these types of disputes are becoming more common," said Mr MacKenzie.

"Whether it is the rights to use the sportsperson's image, or endorsement of a product, there is a lot of money involved.

"And when things go wrong, one side will want to recover that money."

He added: "While it might seem like a dispute about a pair of boots, it is in fact about the whole package that Fellaini represents."