“He endured a challenging childhood, and if you engage in conversation with him, you’ll understand that he truly is 17 years old. It’s undeniable that he may look older, but all his documents are in order,” Tavaro explained to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Various blogs and websites have attempted to uncover Minala’s true age, even claiming that he is 42 years old. However, Minala himself has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as false statements attributed to him by unknown individuals.
In response to the controversy, Minala’s club, Lazio, released a statement affirming the authenticity of the documentation submitted to the relevant football authorities.
“Regarding the articles circulating in the media regarding Joseph Minala’s age and marital status, we confirm the complete legitimacy of the documentation provided to the relevant authorities. With respect for the player and our supporters, the club reserves the right to take action against those responsible for spreading false information,” the statement from the Italian club reads.
