Sports
What Happened to Joseph Minala
Joseph Minala is best known for being the Lazio wonderkid who was accused of being 42. If you haven’t heard of him, let us tell you his incredibly bizarre story.
The Cameroonian footballer made headlines in 2013 when he signed for Lazio at the age of 17. However, he was immediately accused of being in his forties. There can be no denying that Minala looked very mature for someone born in 1996. However, that led to people wrongly accusing him of lying about his age.
His name will be memorable to many for all the wrong reasons. After finally being cleared of any wrongdoing, the former Lazio midfielder was able to continue his career in 2014. Unfortunately, he was unable to break into the Lazio first team after making a few appearances. Here, we take a look at how his career has gone since he was accused of being 42.
Minala Was Accused of Being 42
He was soon cleared of any wrongdoing
An African football website suggested that the midfielder was 25 years older than he was (42 years old), as reported via the BBC. This actually led to an official investigation from the Italian Football Association. However, in April 2014, he was cleared of any wrongdoing and Minala could continue with his football career. Now that the legal battle was over, Minala looked to fulfil his incredible potential and made his Serie A debut at 17. Big things were expected of him.
At the time, Lazio said: “We denounce this attempt from hostile figures to throw a sinister light on this club. We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the club and its players.”
Meanwhile, a journalist who was covering the Lazio youth football team at the time said the claims were ‘unbelievable.’ Max Evangelista defended the player, saying:
“He is a very reactive player. You could never say he is 41. 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.”
Joseph Minala’s Bizarre Professional Career
He failed to get regular game time anywhere
But despite making three appearances at the end of the 2013/14 campaign for Lazio, his career hasn’t panned out the way he was hoping.
He was loaned out to several Serie B clubs including Bari and Latina before spending three consecutive seasons at Salernitana. Despite playing 67 times for the club in Serie B, they opted not to take the option of a permanent deal and Minala went back to Lazio.
Chinese Super League club Qingdao Huanghai offered him a loan deal for the 2020 season. However, the midfielder’s luck didn’t really change as he played 15 times in the league as the side finished 7th out of eight teams. At the end of his loan in China in January 2021, Minala once again returned to Lazio and his contract ended at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
He signed a one-year contract at Lucchese in Serie C (Group B) and played 20 times, scoring three goals. However, he left the club last summer and his future, at the age of 26, was uncertain.
He did find a new club, though, as he attempted to resurrect his stalling career. He remained in the same division to sign for Olbia on a one-year contract in August. Unfortunately for Minala, he was released by mutual consent a few months later.
Minala is now Playing in Malta
Not the career move we all thought…
Now in his late 20s, the midfielder is refusing to hang up his boots just yet. He may have gone several months without a club in 2023, but he found a new one ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Minala signed for Maltese club Sliema Wanderers FC and, in a statement, the club said: “We are delighted to announce the exciting addition of Cameroonian defensive midfielder, Joseph Minala to our team.
“Having already played for some top-level clubs throughout his career including Lazio, Bari and Salernitana, Joseph will surely bring a wealth of talent and experience to our squad. His exceptional defensive skills, tactical awareness, and versatility on the field will make him a very valuable addition to our midfield department. Welcome to Sliema, Joseph!”
Minala played 25 times for the 26x Maltese Champions in 2023/24, scoring four times as he helped them to a third place finish and UEFA Conference League qualification.
However, despite playing a big part for the club, he moved on again after just one season as he joined their division rivals, Gzira United in August 2024. He joined his third Maltese club in three seasons this summer as he signed for Marsaxlokk F.C.
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Joseph Minala’s professional career |
|
|---|---|
|
Lazio |
2014 – 2021 |
|
Bari |
2014 – 2015, 2016 |
|
Latina |
2015 – 2016 |
|
Salernitana |
2017 – 2018, 2019 |
|
Qingdao Huanghai |
2020 |
|
Lucchese |
2021 – 2022 |
|
Olbia |
2022 – 2023 |
|
Liepaja |
2023 |
|
Sliema Wanderers |
2023 – 2024 |
|
Gzira United |
2024 – 2025 |
|
Marsaxlokk F.C |
2025 – present |
|
Correct as of 21/11/2025 |
|
Minala Claims Controversy has Held Back his Career
He also questioned his former manager for not giving him a chance
Minala has previously spoken to Calciomercato about the infamous controversy surrounding his age and insists that it held his career back at Lazio. The midfielder, now 28, believes that he has always been judged for an off-pitch affair rather than for his performances, saying:
“I was very young and I couldn’t know or predict the resonance this would have. I’m convinced that the age story has always held back my career.
“I’ve always been judged for an off-pitch affair and never for my performances, in my first year as a professional at Bari I made 19 appearances and scored four goals.
“Did I expect more? Definitely. Every time I went out on loan I always had good seasons, but I never had the same chances as others at Lazio. I think the club has been conditioned by this age situation, even though I came to the first team in a strong Lazio side.”
Minala also questioned former Lazio boss, Simeone Inzaghi, for not giving him an opportunity. In seven years at the club, the Cameroon-born only made four appearances.
“He didn’t give me the chances I deserved,” he said. “As the first player he focused on in the youth academy, I expected a chance in the first team. I was a bit disappointed, I saw that players of a lower level were given the chance and I was sent out on loan. There were also teams that were interested, but then they pulled out because of the scandal about my age.”
Sports
Tottenham Agree Four-Year Deal With Pedro Porro
Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge boost as Fabrizio Romano reports that Pedro Porro has agreed the terms of a new contract with the club, amid links with a potential exit.
It comes as the Lilywhites are looking to secure the long-term future of their defence, having already announced the signings of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson this summer.
Beyond them, there are talks to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, while exits are expected for Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin in the coming weeks of the market.
As Tottenham continue to address how the squad is built, a new contract is set to be on the table for Porro, coming as the latest boost for Roberto De Zerbi.
Pedro Porro New Contract
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are closing in on a new contract for Porro, as the Spanish star is set to extend his stay with the club until 2030.
Spurs signed the 26-year-old right-back in 2023, paying £39 million to land him from Sporting CP. Porro has made over 150 appearances for the club since, proving his quality in his defending, but also in the attacking areas with his crossing and set-piece ability.
Following a difficult campaign, and with only two years left on his contract, recent reports have linked the defender with a return to Manchester City, with a £60 million valuation set on the star.
However, the new contract extension is set to thwart any threat of an exit for Porro, with Romano claiming that he is viewed as “untouchable” by De Zerbi since his arrival at the club.
It’s a move that helps secure the backline even further for Tottenham moving forward, while they continue to make changes with the aim of strengthening the team.
With Porro’s deal sorted, attention may have to turn to other players in the squad who need a new contract.
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Tottenham Contract Priority
Porro’s contract extension is a huge boost for Tottenham, as they look at the options they have within the squad and where they will build next.
Beyond him, Richarlison, Dane Scarlett and Ben Davies are into the final year of their contracts, though the trio may not be in line for a fresh deal.
Jumping ahead to 2028, there are contract expirations for James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, and Ashley Phillips.
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All of those options may be considered for new deals, but that may have to be closer to the time, especially with the former two battling against injury issues.
As it stands, Tottenham are in a good position with their contracts, and may push more of their focus towards signings in the coming weeks.
Sports
Man Utd May Be About To Make £80m Transfer Mistake
Manchester United could be making a mistake when it comes to the signing of Mateus Fernandes this summer.
United are in the market for new central midfielders when the summer transfer window opens next week, with Ederson the first player through the door in a £38million deal from Serie A side Atalanta.
But another is expected to arrive at Old Trafford during the summer, with new permanent head coach Michael Carrick keen to bolster his options in the middle of the park.
Man Utd look set to miss out on Elliot Anderson
A number of big-name players have been linked with a move to the club and Elliot Anderson remains the number one priority in the position, but United are refusing to enter into a bidding war for the Nottingham Forest man.
Rivals Man City have already had a £105million bid rejected by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and that is a figure United are not willing to stretch to in order to sign the 23-year-old.
That will mean they move on to other alternatives, and for some time West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been one of those, with United preparing a first bid for him.
However, he is another with a big asking price around his shoulders, with the Hammers looking for around £80million to sell him.
Again, United are hoping to haggle on the price and are prepared to wait to see if that figure comes down, but that may be a big mistake.
Speaking on GMS’ Market Madness podcast, senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said: “I think Mateus Fernandes and the asking price kind of started before West Ham went down, so as we revealed on GMS on a previous Market Madness show, the fee that West Ham paid was £38million, plus £4million in add-ons, so there’s your £42million and then if you double that, it’s almost £85million and the asking price that West Ham want is between £80million and £85million.
“There’s some flexibility there, because it could be with add-ons, and that’s ultimately what West Ham did. If you just take £38million and double it, it’s a little bit lower, but I think West Ham’s perspective is that overall, in a mixture of guaranteed and bonuses, they want double what they paid, but that was informed to clubs before they went down, and suitors still feel that that price might drop.
“West Ham are sticking to the price for now, because the window hasn’t even opened, and due to the volume of interest you have, in particular Manchester United and PSG. Manchester United will be there and they’re already in talks on the player side. PSG could enter this race as well, and the more volume of interest, the more likely West Ham are to get a bidding war, and can stick to their asking price.
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“And I think when you look at this out of context, you just see a number like £80million and you think it seems quite high, and it certainly is when you think of West Ham’s relegation and all of the turmoil at the club, but the market is just inflated.
“Bournemouth want £80million for Alex Scott. Elliot Anderson has a high price, Chelsea want £120million for Enzo Fernandez. So West Ham will be pointing to other deals in the market and saying you have to meet that valuation.”
West Ham getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season was expected to make things easier for interested parties to sign some of their top players on cheaper deals.
However, that is not the case.
West Ham stand by £80m price tag
The Hammers are sticking by their price tag and while United may wait to see if the price comes down the closer we get to summer transfer deadline day, other clubs may show an interest – something West Ham are hoping will happen, like with PSG.
West Ham’s relegation, you would have thought, would already have made them rethink their asking price, given they will need all the financial power they can get in their bid to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible, but their stance remains firm.
United run the risk of another club swooping in to sign the highly-rated 21-year-old before them, or, alternatively, seeing the price remain the same and then picking the Portuguese up late in the window and then having to wait to get him up to speed with United’s philosophy.
Either way, it is a dangerous game United are playing.
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Sports
Tim Ream Ignored Donald Trump’s Phone Call With USMNT
USA captain Tim Ream’s reaction to Donald Trump’s World Cup phone call has caused a stir on social media after the president delivered one final rallying call ahead of the team’s opener against Paraguay on Friday night. The USMNT have high hopes of making their mark on the tournament this summer, with Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie among their standout stars.
With Australia and Turkiye making up the rest of Group D, the Stars and Stripes could yet spring a surprise by reaching the knockout stages, although that is likely where the FIFA world No. 17 side would face a much sterner test. That hasn’t stopped Trump from talking up their chances, however.
In a phone call with Mauricio Pochettino and the squad, the White House leader insisted the United States have every chance of going all the way, expressing confidence in both the coach and the star quality at his disposal. Throughout the conversation, the former Tottenham manager appeared grateful for the words of encouragement and support.
USMNT Captain Tim Ream’s Reaction to Trump’s World Cup Call
‘Gratitude’ perhaps wasn’t a word that could be used to describe Ream’s reaction to the phone call, though, with many football fans quickly noticing how uninspired the former Premier League defender looked throughout the video. One X user wrote (watch the full phone call below):
“Tim Ream wants absolutely nothing to do with this. [Donald] Trump is a bad omen man.”
“I’ve always liked Tim Ream,” a second added, while a third continued: “Tim Ream is all of us here.” Elsewhere, another account wrote: “USMNT Captain Tim Ream refuses to acknowledge Trump phone call,” as a fifth concluded: “Tim Ream was fighting for his life to avoid saying something mean, I love him.”
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Donald Trump’s World Cup Vilification Continues After Opening Matches
While Russia and Qatar used the previous two World Cups to present themselves in a positive light, the same cannot be said for the United States under Trump in recent months. An inaugural FIFA “Peace Prize” awarded to him in December has since been followed by a series of political tensions.
From Venezuelan government kidnappings and threats of excessive force towards NATO over Greenland’s occupancy, to ongoing visa issues that have left players, coaches, referees and fans struggling to enter the country, his influence on the build-up to the tournament has been heavily criticised.
Attendance figures have also raised concerns, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino has urged everyone to “chill” amid the chaos. Whether Ream is a supporter of the Trump administration or not is anyone’s guess, but one thing is clear – much of the football world appears unconvinced, to put it lightly.
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