Ilaix Moriba

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Kourouma and the second or maternal family name is Kourouma.
Ilaix Moriba
Personal information
Full name Moriba Kourouma Kourouma[1]
Date of birth (2003-01-19) 19 January 2003 (age 18)
Place of birth Conakry, Guinea
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 RB Leipzig
Number 26
Youth career
2008–2010 Espanyol
2010–2020 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Barcelona B 19 (2)
2021 Barcelona 14 (1)
2021– RB Leipzig 0 (0)
National team
2019 Spain U17 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:39, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

Moriba Kourouma Kourouma (born 19 January 2003), known as Ilaix Moriba (Catalan: [iˈɫaʃ muˈɾiβə]), is a Guinean professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.[2]

Early life[]

Moriba was born in Conakry, Guinea, to a Guinean mother and a Liberian father.[3] He holds both Spanish and Guinean citizenship.[4]

Club career[]

Barcelona[]

Moriba arrived at Barcelona from Espanyol in 2010.[5][6] He has been considered 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. The most remarkable feat 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 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. He was an unused substitute in a 4–0 away win.[12][13] Moriba would later make his first team debut – and as a starter – on 21 January against 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] On 13 February 2021, he made his La Liga debut in a 5–1 win over Alavés, in which he also provided an assist for Francisco Trincão.[16] He scored his first La Liga goal in a 2–0 away win against Osasuna on 6 March 2021,[17] to become the fifth youngest scorer in club's history, topped only by Ansu Fati, Bojan Krkić, Lionel Messi and Pedri.[18]

On 10 March 2021, Moriba made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 1–1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, coming on as a substitute for Sergio Busquets in the 79th minute.[19]

RB Leipzig[]

On 31 August 2021, Moriba joined Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for a fee of €16 million and €6 million additional in variables. Barcelona also reserved the right to 10% of any future sale.[20][21]

International career[]

Ilaix is a youth international with Spain, but he is also eligible for both Guinea and Liberia.[4] 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.[22]

On August 21, 2021, he officially chose to change international allegiances from Spain and chose to play with the Guinea national team.[23]

Playing style[]

Due to his physicality and creativity, Moriba has been compared to French footballer Paul Pogba.[24][25]

Career statistics[]

As of 31 August 2021
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona B 2019–20 Segunda División B 8 1 — — 3[a] 0 11 1
2020–21 11 1 — — 0 0 11 1
Total 19 2 — — 3 0 22 2
Barcelona 2020–21 La Liga 14 1 3 0 1[b] 0 0 0 18 1
RB Leipzig 2021–22 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 33 3 3 0 1 0 3 0 40 3
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Segunda División B play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

Honours[]

Barcelona

References[]

  1. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: Spain" (PDF). FIFA. 31 October 2019. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Meet Ilaix Moriba, Barcelona's Next Wunderkind". Forbes. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. ^ Quaye, Peterking (27 May 2018). "Manchester City Liberian young player Moriba Kourouma". Liberia Sports Online.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Mognouma, ParLamine (9 July 2017). "Nouveau Talent : À quatorze ans, Moriba Kourouma s'impose au centre de formation du Barça". Guinée Foot (in French).
  5. ^ "Bale's agent secures €2M deal for Barcelona starlet". Diario AS. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  6. ^ Ilaix Moriba, Barça through and through since the age of seven, FC Barcelona, 22 January 2021
  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. ^ "Ilaix Moriba on Barcelona debut: I have that mistake in my head". Marca. 13 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Jordi Alba and Ilaix Moriba rockets fire Barcelona into second place". Eurosport. 6 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Ilaix Moriba scores first goal for FC Barcelona". FC Barcelona. 6 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Paris 1–1 Barcelona". UEFA. 10 March 2021.
  20. ^ "TALENTED YOUNGSTER ILAIX MORIBA JOINS RB LEIPZIG". RB Leipzig. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Agreement with RB Leipzig for the transfer of Ilaix Moriba". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  22. ^ Lantheaume, Romain (20 March 2020). "Barca : le prometteur Ilaix Moriba dit oui à la Guinee !". Afrik foot (in French).
  23. ^ "Ilaix Moriba renuncia a España" (in Spanish). As.com. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Ilaix Moriba: The 'Pogba of Barca' Destined for Greatness". Bleacher Report. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Ilaix Moriba: Barcelona's 'new Pogba' closing in on a first-team debut". Bleacher Report. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  26. ^ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

External links[]

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