Leverkusen request FIFA to register Alario

FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Argentina's River Plate v Colombia's Independiente Medellin - Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina - 25/5/2017. River Plate's Lucas Alario reacts after he missed a penalty kick. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen have requested world soccer body FIFA to register striker Lucas Alario as their own player after the Argentine federation refused to release him, the German club said on Friday.

Leverkusen had announced the deal late last month, saying it had paid the Argentine international's release clause to River Plate and the 24-year-old forward was eligible to sign with Leverkusen.