According to The Guardian, Man City whistleblower Rui Pinto is willing to assist UK authorities, provided he receives adequate protection.

The Guardian understands that Pinto is prepared to assist UK authorities with relevant legal cases in exchange for protection against threats. The documents he exposed prompted the Premier League to investigate Man City's financial affairs.

Despite a crowdfunding campaign launched on Friday to fund his new life after leaving Portuguese police protection, the whistleblower still prioritizes cooperation, provided adequate security arrangements are in place.

In addition to the potential sporting consequences of the Premier League's ongoing case against Man City, UK authorities may also decide to broaden their investigation. This has already happened in Portugal regarding some of the documents Pinto disclosed. An independent commission found Man City guilty of over 100 charges, determining that the club artificially inflated revenue by £900 million through "fictitious" contracts. This investigation was triggered by thousands of private documents leaked by Pinto.

Man City confirmed on Friday that the club would appeal the court's ruling.

Pinto, who has detailed knowledge of the implicated documents, individuals, and companies, and possesses material that might have been overlooked in the investigation, is willing to continue as a protected witness in another country.

Days before his arrest in Budapest in January 2019, the then 37-year-old Portuguese citizen was negotiating entry into France's witness protection program, but this move was halted by Portuguese authorities.

If it is confirmed that Pinto is no longer a protected witness in Portugal, he will be free to cooperate with authorities in other countries starting October 10. He has previously cooperated intermittently with French, German, and Belgian authorities. If the UK is willing, it could now join this list.

The assistance Pinto could provide in the UK extends far beyond the Man City scandal. The hundreds of millions of documents he collected in "Football Leaks" and "Luanda Leaks" are not solely in the possession of Portuguese authorities.

Between his arrest in Hungary and extradition to Portugal, French authorities traveled to the Hungarian capital to copy all electronic device content held by the whistleblower. In April of this year, Pinto was acquitted of 241 charges after his second trial in Portugal.

Now, these documents can be shared as part of international cooperation between countries with bilateral relations, including the UK.

Pinto is currently awaiting the outcome of his future. His defense team has protested the decision to terminate his protection, accusing Portugal of practicing "state terrorism." The whistleblower's lawyers stated they have appealed the decision and requested information on how the risk assessment was conducted but have not received a response.

The hacker stated that he wants to leave Portugal for an undisclosed location. As of press time, a crowdfunding campaign has raised over €19,000 (£16,530).

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