Nathan Doualla has declined a contract extension with Victoria United, opting to part ways with the club that developed him despite being offered an improved monthly salary of 400,000 FCFA.
The 17-year-old midfielder, once viewed as the golden boy of Cameroonian football, now finds himself at odds with both his club and key figures within the national football landscape.
With his current deal set to expire in June 2025, Doualla’s decision not to renew has sent shockwaves through the domestic football scene.
By rejecting the proposed extension, the young talent is now on course to leave Victoria United on a free transfer—a scenario that would see the Limbe-based club miss out on any compensation for a player they helped nurture.
Doualla’s stance marks a dramatic shift in his relationship with Victoria United president Valentine Nkwain, who had previously been a close ally and mentor.
The two were once seen as inseparable within the club’s structure, with Doualla often described as Nkwain’s “protégé.”
His refusal to commit to a future with the club is being interpreted in many quarters as a direct challenge to the authority of a president known for his influence and control.
In Cameroonian football, where hierarchy and loyalty are deeply ingrained, Doualla’s move is being viewed as both rebellious and symbolic—a signal of a young player seeking autonomy in an environment resistant to change.
His emergence at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations propelled him into national fame, with performances that drew attention far beyond the borders of Cameroon.
Yet, controversy has closely followed. In October 2024, a shadow was cast over his profile when a report alleged he was in fact not 17 but 23, and that his real name was Alexandre Bardelli.
The claims, though never formally acted upon, have lingered in the background, stoking rumours of powerful backing shielding him from consequences.
Now, amid whispers of internal friction and a growing desire for emancipation, Doualla appears ready to carve out a new path.
He is reportedly exploring options both within Africa and in Europe, as interest mounts in his next move.
Speaking in April to Passion Foot Invest, Doualla framed his situation not as one of disobedience but of resistance.
“If you attack me, you attack Cameroon,” he said, presenting himself as a scapegoat caught in a system he sees as deeply flawed.
His departure, when it comes, will not just be the exit of a promising player.
It may also mark a turning point in the uneasy relationship between youth development, power, and independence in Cameroonian football.
