Ilaix Moriba

Moriba Kourouma Kourouma (born 19 January 2003), known as Ilaix Moriba (Spanish: [iˈlaʃ moˈɾiβa]), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Barcelona B as a central midfielder.[1] Born in Guinea, Moriba represents Spain internationally.

Ilaix Moriba
Personal information
Full name Moriba Kourouma Kourouma
Date of birth (2003-01-19) 19 January 2003
Place of birth Conakry, Guinea
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Barcelona B
Number 30
Youth career
2008–2010 Espanyol
2010–2020 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Barcelona B 15 (1)
2021– Barcelona 0 (0)
National team‡
2019– Spain U17 7 (2)
2019– Spain U18 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:33, 24 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:25, 29 April 2020 (UTC)

Due to his physicality and creativity, Moriba has been compared to French footballer Paul Pogba.[2][3]

Early life

Moriba was born in Conakry, Guinea, to a Guinean mother and a Liberian father.[4] He holds both Spanish and Guinean citizenship.[5]

Club career

Moriba arrived at FC Barcelona from RCD Espanyol in 2010.[6] He has been considered as one of the best players of his generation, and he has very often played in categories of players far older than him.[7][8] Moriba really stood out at age 15 when he scored a hat-trick against the Real Madrid U19's. The most remarkable thing was his last goal, where he scored from the middle of the pitch at the start of the second half.[9]

In January 2019, as his youth contract was about to expire, clubs such as Manchester City and Juventus tried to sign him, but he eventually came to sign a record deal, with a salary of more than €500,000 a year and a buyout clause set at €100 million.[10]

The following season he became a regular for Barça B. He scored his first goal on 8 March 2020, the winner in a 3–2 victory against UE Llagostera.[11]

During the 2020–21 season, Moriba was included in the first team squad for the first time for a La Liga match against Granada CF. He was an unused subtitute in a 4–0 away win.[12][13] Moriba would later make his first team debut – and as a starter – on 21 January against UE Cornellà in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. He was replaced by Sergio Busquets in the 74th minute of a 2–0 win.[14][15]

International career

Ilaix is a youth international with Spain, but both the Guinean and Liberian football federations have reportedly tried to get him to switch nationality.[5] It appeared the youngster eventually chose to play for the Guinea national team, being set to make his debut on the international stage in June 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic froze the 2020 football season.[16]

Career statistics
As of 24 January 2021
Club League Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B
Segunda División B
2019–20 81—3[lower-alpha 1]0111
2020–21 70—0070
Total 151—30181
Barcelona La Liga 2020–21 0010000010
Total0010000010
Career total 151100030191
  1. Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs

References
  1. "Meet Ilaix Moriba, Barcelona's Next Wunderkind". Forbes. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. "Ilaix Moriba: The 'Pogba of Barca' Destined for Greatness". Bleacher Report. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. "Ilaix Moriba: Barcelona's 'new Pogba' closing in on a first-team debut". Bleacher Report. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  4. Quaye, Peterking (27 May 2018). "Manchester City Liberian young player Moriba Kourouma". Liberia Sports Online.
  5. Mognouma, ParLamine (9 July 2017). "Nouveau Talent : À quatorze ans, Moriba Kourouma s'impose au centre de formation du Barça". Guinée Foot (in French).
  6. "Bale's agent secures €2M deal for Barcelona starlet". Diario AS. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. "Barça: Manchester city ,Chelsea et Juventus font le forcing pour Moriba kourouma". Guinée Actu Sport (in French). 30 November 2018.
  9. "Barcelona youth teamer Ilaix scores a hat-trick against Real Madrid". Marca. 21 August 2018.
  10. Martinez, Ferran (19 December 2018). "Cuenta atrás por Ilaix Moriba" [Countdown for Ilaix Moriba]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish).
  11. "Barça B 3-2 Llagostera: License to dream". FC Barcelona. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  12. "Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba called up by Koeman for Granada". Sport. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  13. "Granada 0-4 Barça: Another away win!". FC Barcelona. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  14. "Cornellà 0-2 FC Barcelona: Victory in extra time". FC Barcelona. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  15. "Ilaix Moriba: I almost couldn't sleep". Marca. 21 January 2021.
  16. Lantheaume, Romain (20 March 2020). "Barca : le prometteur Ilaix Moriba dit oui à la Guinee !". Afrik foot (in French).
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