The ridiculousness of this, easily my favourite footballing story of the year thus far.
17 year old Lazio talent Joseph Minala
- Thread starter R.N7
- Start date
Also, I refer you all to this...
Nwankwo Kanu is 42 and Taribo West, whose career ended two years ago, is in his late fifties, says bloggers in Nigeria
Nwankwo Kanu is 42 and Taribo West, whose career ended two years ago, is in his late fifties, says bloggers in Nigeria
What's Chris Eubank doing in an Italian nightclub?
There's life in the old dog yet.
Honestly, gun to your head, who would you guess is the much older of the two here?
This age thing has gone beyond a joke now. There's just no way that bloke is under 40.
Racist.
The thing is, though, that if it is what it looks like - it's just plainly taking the piss, no? I mean, Kanu was always rumoured to be older than his passport said - but it wasn't nearly as blatant as this appears to be. I read somewhere recently that Kanu is 45 (officially he is 37). That means he could be sold as a 17 year old when he was in fact in his mid twenties - which is the sort of scheme you can just about get away with. This "lad", though! It's on a completely different level.
I'll give him this: he looks very agile for an octogenarian.
I'll give him this: he looks very agile for an octogenarian.
2014
I always try to defend african players against these allegations of fake credentials and age but this is too fecking much. Unless Minala is hit with some special disease there is no way he's 17 years old 
Well I think its clear he must have an unfortunate condition. While his face looks like that of a 40 year old he still has the body of a 17 year old so I wouldnt be too surprised if its legit. It just looks funny
If that were true, it would be remarkable that they were able to play football at Premiership standard until age 42 and late forties, respectively.
Yes, in all seriousness this must surely be the case. At least I hope so.
Exactly. If he's the 35-year old people seem to think, then why didn't he try this 10 years ago when he looked younger and (presumably) was closer to his physical peak.
Nah, it looks to obvious so perhaps there should be more to it. I knew people who have gone almost bald in their late teens/early 29s and they also looked ridiculously old for their age. There is no way someone over 30 would pass as a 17-year old - a 2 or 3 years of difference could be indistinguishable but not 10-15.
Ruuuun!
I love it, people question the guys age and the club jumps straight to threats of legal action. They would have been better of just not doing anything.Imagine that guy is dating your 16 year old daughter 
Imagine if it turned out that your 16 year old daughter is actually this guy's 16 year old daughter
Imagine that guy is dating your 16 year old daughter
I don't have a daughter but the thought of it is still horrible.
He is a 45 y.o.
Joseph Minala: Lazio respond to false age claims of teenager
Lazio have threatened legal action against those who have questioned the legitimacy of the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Minala.
The Italian side stated that his birth certificate is "absolutely legitimate".
Lazio added: "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer."
The midfielder also issued a statement via the club's website denying he told an African website he was 41.
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. They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know."
Minala joined the Rome club last summer and recently played for them in the Viareggio Cup youth tournament.
Italian journalist Max Evangelista, who reports on Lazio's youth team, said any suggestions the player was 41 were "unbelievable".
He said Minala had scored five goals and made six assists this season for Lazio's youth team, who are the holders of the national title.
"He is a very reactive player. You could never say he is 41," he told BBC World Service." When you are surrounded by players running like devils around you, in my opinion it is very tough to be 41. He runs, he is fast. It is unbelievable news, that is why Lazio felt the need to deny it.
"He was in an orphanage for a couple of years in Cameroon, then he had to face the situation here by himself. It is a controversial story because the face of the player is not that of a 17-year-old guy.
"On his face there is sign of his previous life, which was not a happy life. That is it. Period. There is nothing else that makes you think he is 41.
"He is a kid with the head of a kid. He only wants to play football as he did on the road years ago barefoot. That is the only thing he is focused on and being a talent because he is a talent."
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26162408
Lazio have threatened legal action against those who have questioned the legitimacy of the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Minala.
The Italian side stated that his birth certificate is "absolutely legitimate".
Lazio added: "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer."
The midfielder also issued a statement via the club's website denying he told an African website he was 41.
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. They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know."
Minala joined the Rome club last summer and recently played for them in the Viareggio Cup youth tournament.
Italian journalist Max Evangelista, who reports on Lazio's youth team, said any suggestions the player was 41 were "unbelievable".
He said Minala had scored five goals and made six assists this season for Lazio's youth team, who are the holders of the national title.
"He is a very reactive player. You could never say he is 41," he told BBC World Service." When you are surrounded by players running like devils around you, in my opinion it is very tough to be 41. He runs, he is fast. It is unbelievable news, that is why Lazio felt the need to deny it.
"He was in an orphanage for a couple of years in Cameroon, then he had to face the situation here by himself. It is a controversial story because the face of the player is not that of a 17-year-old guy.
"On his face there is sign of his previous life, which was not a happy life. That is it. Period. There is nothing else that makes you think he is 41.
"He is a kid with the head of a kid. He only wants to play football as he did on the road years ago barefoot. That is the only thing he is focused on and being a talent because he is a talent."
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26162408
In all seriousness, if he actually is 17 and has some sort of condition, I feel sorry for him. Internet must be making his life hell, and he's basically just a kid
I think he spent more than "a couple of years' in that orphanage.
Is there actually a way you can tell? Surely you can do bloodwork of some kind?
Is there actually a way you can tell? Surely you can do bloodwork of some kind?
They do a wrist bone test as far as i know
Black people tend to age far less noticeably than white people, which leads me to think he's a lot older than he says. Even if a white "kid" looked like that I'd say it was a fib. This guy has to be the most haggard 17 year old I've ever seen. I guess he's either telling fibs, has some sort of condition or he spent 17 years sunbathing.
Perhaps he meant "he ran the orphanage for a couple of years?"
http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982210012868
Get to da choppah!
Bone Test. Breno (Brazilian former Bayern defender) refused to join Real in about 2008 after they wanted to do a bone test on him.
He's not likley to be 35, but, if for example he's 22 or 23 - that might be the reason he looks so good playing against 16 year olds in youth tournaments.
He's hardly 35 or 41 or whatever Unless he's Cameroonian Ryan Giggs. How would a 41 year old keep up with other 17/18 year olds? It's ridiculous!
Unless he's Cameroonian Ryan Giggs. How would a 41 year old keep up with other 17/18 year olds? It's ridiculous!All joking aside, surely they will be able to tell what sort of age he is the moment that he starts training. Its not like a 28 year old saying that he is 26 and the fitness and ability levels being pretty much the same! That bloke is about 40! I don't see whats in this for Lazio...its so bizarre, there must be more to it!
Not really, I'm sure Giggsy can still keep up with most of the team in training. The problems may arise if he has to play 3 games in 10 days or something?
Surely there are scientific tests that can be done to determine someone's age? Or at least to determine whether he is 17 or 40. And surely these tests were done when the docs first laid eyes on him? I don't know what Lazio have to gain from signing a 40 year old apart from being made a laughing stock.
Fitness dpoesnt always have a lot to do with age. I know a bloke in his 50's who runs marathons for fun, in times that mich younger people would be proud of.
The article (link posted above) about it being a problem in Nigeria is interesting. Seems such players get on alright for a couple of years until age catches up.
Some people tend to look a lot older though.
This is Shelvey at 19 years old.
Robben at 21 years old.
This is Shelvey at 19 years old.
Robben at 21 years old.