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Big things were expected of Minala especially given his physical strengths. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Minala had an incredibly physique for someone so young something that undoubtedly saw people wrongly accuse him of lying about his age. It is an adventure that could make anyone look wizened before their time. ", Minala's agent, Diego Tavano told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday: "If you talk to him, then you realise from the way he speaks that he's still absolutely a 17-year-old lad. The Lazio website goes on to tell what, depending on your point of view, is either a heart warming story of triumph over adversity, or a typical tale of the callous way agents and European clubs treat young African desperate to live the dream". A lot of people expected me to stop playing or go crazy..

Period. "I have read the alleged statements posted on the website senego.net in which it says I confessed my real age which was different to what was stated in my [official] documents. However, his contract at the Italian club expires at the end of the season and, according to Transfermarkt, he will be released. When you are surrounded by players running like devils around you, in my opinion it is very tough to be 41. New to Kayo?

"From now on, [the club] announces that it will take any action aimed at ending such behaviour out of respect for the fans and the player while reserving the right to take action against anybody responsible [for such behaviour] to defend the good name of the club and the footballer. "He is a kid with the head of a kid. Is a club willing to take a chance on this one-time wonderkid? Tweeters have pointed out that in photographs he looks much older. Chinese Super League club Qingdao Huanghaioffered him a loan deal for the 2020 season. Joseph had a difficult childhood, that's the issue. An African football website suggested that the Cameroonian midfielder was 25 years older than he was claimingwhich actually led to an official investigation from the Italian Football Association. He only wants to play football as he did on the road years ago barefoot. On Twitter, NotMatchoftheDay called him footballs Benjamin Button".

He said: "I have read the alleged statements posted on the website senego.net in which it says I confessed my real age which was different to what was stated in my [official] documents. But nowLe Aquilehave threatened legal action against anybody who questions the legitimacy of his age. His agent said Minala has led a hard life. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. 17 going on 41: Joseph Minala might look older, but he's definitely only 17-years-old, say his club. While it appears Minalas eight years contracted at Lazio is coming to an end, he recently gave an interview insisting he will do all he can to prove his worth to the club. Minala, like most of his compatriots in Africa, dreamt of becoming a football player and living a better life". "They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know. And thats the nub. As a teenager, Minala is an impressive talent.

If I happen to have an opportunity with Lazio, I will take it as I always have, he said. Minala shut down his social media accounts as they filled with insulting messages questioning his age. You can unsubscribe at any time. It is a controversial story because the face of the player is not that of a 17-year-old guy. Speaking by telephone from Suzhou, where his new team Qingdao Huanghai are playing in a bubble to thwart the coronavirus, Minala said: I would have had a different career (without this controversy). Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The club have been forced to prove that he is still a teenager and threaten legal action against anyone who questions the age of their striker, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Last updated on 13 February 201413 February 2014.From the section European Football. After one year as a youth player at Napoli there was interest from Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan, he says, but in 2013 he joined Lazios under-19 squad. ", "They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know. If hes 17, the club has made a potentially lucrative investment in a player who could have a long career ahead. Italian journalist Max Evangelista, who reports on Lazio's youth team, said any suggestions the player was 41 were "unbelievable". He will spend this season with Qingdao and is unsure what will happen when his contract expires in June 2021 at Lazio, where he has made a handful of first-team appearances. Lazio beat off competition from several other Italian clubs to sign him. I am ready for any challenge, and I hope that the next one will be with the Biancocelesti. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning, Take international news everywhere with you! In youth matches, I often had the impression that fathers and sons were playing on the same team". Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Im good at baking. Lazio have threatened to take legal action against anyone who questions the legitimacy of the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian forward Joseph Minala, after the club were forced to release documents to prove he is still a teenager, and not in his forties. Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. The Italian side stated that his birth certificate is "absolutely legitimate". Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >. The problem is that age is an old question for African footballers. "On his face there is sign of his previous life, which was not a happy life. However, in April 2014, he was cleared of any wrongdoing and, at the real age of 17, made his debut for the Serie A giants.

It held back my career and is (still) holding back my career, the Cameroonian tells AFP. He blocked photos on his Instagram account, deleted his Facebook profile and filtered out Twitter pictures of himself, although he does still tweet. There is nothing else that makes you think he is 41. Adele radiates happiness as she holidays in Sardinia aboard super yacht, Supermarket worker shares secrets to saving up to 90% on your weekly food shop, Meghan 'accused Victoria Beckham of indiscretion' - with 'damaging' call to David, Polar bear pleads for help from humans after getting tongue stuck in tin can, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. I was told that people were coming to pick me up for the trial but I waited an hour, an hour-and-a-half, and still no one was there, he said. It is unbelievable news, that is why Lazio felt the need to deny it. I was abandoned at the station with my two suitcases and a mobile phone without a SIM card in it. ", Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism, By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. New to Kayo? Minala lived in the housing centre with other youths and it was there that he trained to do another job in case his football dreams failed to materialise. Lazio have threatened legal action over those who question the age of their 17-year-old player Joseph Minala, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters, You must be over 18 years old to register. Who remembers this absolute legend Joseph Minala who looked like this at 17-years-old when he played for Lazio.Still blows my mind pic.twitter.com/VFmFS30uG7. I had opportunities at some clubs (to move there), but I think it didnt happen because of this business, he said. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. I had the opportunity to go to France, I had the opportunity to go to Paris Saint-Germain at the time but it didnt happen.. I keep going on with my life, despite everything people have tried to do against me, said Minala, who has ambitions of playing for Cameroons national team. If, on the other hand, Minala is 41, then he has little future and Lazio is being conned. His parents spent a lot of money to finance the trip to Italy, but after arriving the 14-year-old Minala found himself stranded at a Rome train station. Lazio added:external-link "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer.". Modric, Perisic, Tadic: What would a modern-day Yugoslavia XI look like? Guy Roux, for more than 40 years the manager at Auxerre in the French league, once told Le Parisien newspaper that when a young African "gave his age I would ask him if he was merely calculating the sales tax on the real total. Just ask Lazio, the Roman soccer club, which on Thursday announced it would sue anyone who suggested that one of its youth players was old enough to be the father of his 17-year-old teammates. The Serie A club was reacting to an internet and Twitter frenzy surrounding Joseph Marie Minala, an attacking midfielder from Cameroon. Western Europeans have long viewed the documents carried by African footballers with suspicion.

Maybe after football, Ill open a bakery, you never know, he laughed. Totally unbiased Liverpool fan with a deep hatred of VAR. A lot was expected of Joseph Minala when he joined Lazio in 2013.

Lazio have threatened legal action against those who have questioned the legitimacy of the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Minala. That is it. The player, who was called up to the Lazio first team for the first time for last Sunday's Rome derby, appears far older than his years, and has had to deny that he told a website that he was really 41, saying: "It's false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know and for whom I reserve every action of damage.". ", Minala joined the Rome club last summer and recently played for them in the. But since I was an unaccompanied minor, they took me to a hospital for tests, then to a social welfare centre and I was enrolled in an Italian school. For any player to play in the top-flight in a major league at the age of 17 shows just how talented they are. But Italys football association conducted an investigation and concluded that he was telling the truth. It was a year later that the claims were made about his age and he then made several loan moves, notably to Bari and Salernitana in Italys second tier.

He runs, he is fast. Minala said, "I have read the alleged statements posted on the website senego.net in which it says I confessed my real age which was different to what was stated in my documents. The midfielder also issued a statement via the club's website denying he told an African website he was 41. Joseph Minala is now playing in the Chinese Super League. Joseph Minala, the 17-year-oldCameroonian footballeron the books at Lazio, has been the centre of a storm recently. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >. Minala, says Lazio, found himself in foster care but was spotted playing the game he loved for a local amateur team. Minala was a budding star at Italian giants Lazio when a report out of Senegal claimed that he was not aged 17, as he said, but 41. Download the France 24 app, Italy rescues more than 1,100 African migrants at sea, Tour de France: Vingegaard drops Pogacar on final climb to extend overall lead, England rallies to knock out Spain, reaching Euro semi-finals, Tour de France: Pogacar wins Pyrenees duel but Vingegaard cements overall lead, Tour de France: Belgiums Jasper Philipsen wins stage 15, Vingegaard retains lead despite crash, Tour de France: Australias Michael Matthews wins stage 14, Vingegaard retains overall lead, Womens Tour de France: Director relishes chance for girls to identify with champions, Tour de France: Denmarks Mads Pedersen wins stage 13, Vingegaard keeps lead, Tour de France: Britain's Pidcock wins Bastille Day stage 12 as Vingegaard retains lead, Tour de France: Vingegaard wins epic stage 11 as Pogacar cracks, Tour de France: Cort Nielsen wins stage 10, Pogacar retains yellow jersey, Olympic great Mo Farah reveals he was trafficked to UK at age 9, forced to be child servant, France thrash Italy in stirring start to womens Euro 2022, Novak Djokovic wins seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam. The Cameroonian footballer made headlines when he signed for the Italian club aged 17. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? He was loaned out to several Serie B clubs including Bari and Latina before spending three consecutive seasons at Salernitana. The youngster has now shut down hissocial media accountsafter abuse over his age. The player was spotted as a talented youngster in Cameroon, and a former player who was also an agent promised him a trial at AC Milan. Joseph Minalas career was rocked by false reports he was 24 years old than he claimed to be. 2022 Sports New Media Limited. By clicking Register you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to ourTerms of use,Cookie policyandPrivacy notice. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. Nobody was at the airport and he had no choice but go to the police station.". Something went wrong, please try again later. Soon he was at Lazio. You could never say he is 41," he told BBC World Service."

However, the midfielders luck didnt really change as he played 15 times in the league as the side finished 7th out of eight teams.

"They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know.". Bootifulgame pointed out that whether he was 17 or 41, hes a pretty good player for his age". "Had trials at Southampton as a youngster and would've made it if it wasn't for a knee injury.". 2022 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. He was subjected to cruel ridicule on social media. I want to show the club that I have matured; I hope to finally have my chance to show how much I am worth.. Lazio responded by saying they were satisfied that Minalas birth certificate was genuine and that the documents the club filed with the soccer authorities were accurate. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines.

"He was in an orphanage for a couple of years in Cameroon, then he had to face the situation here by himself. However, in a truly bizarre story, he was immediately accused of being 42. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. By clicking Create my account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to ourTerms of use,Cookie policyandPrivacy notice. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. The player, who joined the Serie A side last summer, shut down most of his social media accounts following abuse over his appearance. Some have questioned his age, after claims he told an African website that he is 41-years-old, which would render him ineligible to play for Lazio's youth sides. Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter with the day's key headlines and transfer news straight into your inbox.

"At the age of 15 he decided to leave his home town Yaound so that he can go to Rome, Italy where there is something waiting for him," says Lazios English-language site. ", His agent, Diego Tavano, told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport: He had a difficult time growing up. The Italian club have reacted angrily to an African website's allegations and say they will will consider legal action against anyone who questions his age. However, then came a new opportunity for him. As the clubs website says in its biography of the player, Minala is now living his dream at Lazio. Age can be a sensitive issue. At the end of his loan in China in January 2021, Minala once again returned to Lazio. Joseph Minala does not wish to dwell on the bizarre age claim which propelled him into the headlines in 2014, but there is just no getting away from it.

In the end, it was a scam that I never understood. Not knowing what to do, Minala went to a police station. Jospeh Minala also released a public statement via Lazio's website, in which he denies that he gave quotes regarding his age to the African website Senogo.net. "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer.". At the start of this year he moved to Qingdao on loan, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed his debut until last month. ", "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. Transfer window: 32 moves you may have forgotten ever happened, Chelsea's Raheem Sterling thrashes Thomas Tuchel in wholesome table tennis footage, Man Utd: 250k-a-week star now 'open to joining' at Old Trafford, West Ham still in conversation over 32.3m signing at London Stadium, Chelsea: Tuchel 'wants' key signing after 105m duo at Stamford Bridge, Manuel Neuer slammed by taxi driver who drove 75 miles to return wallet, Rudiger, Silva, Zouma: Every Chelsea CB since John Terry ranked. That is the only thing he is focused on and being a talent because he is a talent. I only knew two words of Italian. All Rights Reserved. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Lazio insist striker is only 17 despite rumours claiming he is 41, At least 20% off branded sports clothing at Very, Getaway Deals up to 15% off with Booking.com in July, Free UK delivery worth 5 on orders worth 60 - Debenhams promo code, Up to 70% off this week with AliExpress super value deals, 15% off tablets, phones, consoles, smartwatches - eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this July, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. This is an image that some people unfortunately have of me, Minala added. A French-language Senegalese website first published a report quoting Minala as saying he would be 42 at his next birthday in August, and then another saying it had found childhood friends of Minala who say he is at least 36. After all, hes still only 24. Minalas agent at the time explained that Minala looked older because of his difficult back story, which includes a spell in an Italian care home. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Watch European Football with beIN SPORTS and ESPN on Kayo. However, after making three appearances at the end of the 2013/14 campaign at such a young age, Minala hasnt been able to fulfil his incredible potential. Mino Raiola, the high-profile agent who represents Paul Pogba and a slew of other stars, spotted Minala playing in amateur football in the Rome region and took him south to Napoli. If you talk to him youll realise he is in every way a 17-year-old lad.". Despite playing 67 times for Salernitana, the club opted not to take the option of a permanent deal and Minala trudged back to Rome. Sometimes people prefer to ignore that Im a good player and only point out that aspect of me..