21st Century Cracks: Ilaix Moriba, the ‘Pogba’ of Barça

Ilaix Moriba (Guinea Conakry, 2003) he is the most popular footballer in the Barça youth team, after Ansu Fati is definitely settled in the first team. Those who know him well speak of him as the ‘new Pogba’, although adding the associative capacity that Yaya Touré showed in his time in Barcelona. His long period in the Blaugrana quarry (he arrived in 2010 from Espanyol) has allowed him to grow up in the culture of touch football, but without losing his strength and vertical play.

Although he is a first-year junior, this season he has played eight games with the subsidiary in Segunda B. In fact, in the last game played this year, against Llagostera, he scored a goal that made him a the second youngest player in history to score with Barcelona B (aged 17, one month and 18 days). Only Dongou (16 years, 11 months and five days) surpasses him in earliness.

In its promising evolution, García Pimienta, technician of the subsidiary, is playing an important role. “I am very grateful for the confidence he gives me, I am learning a lot. To mature, to read every situation in the game. I'm with him to death, “says the footballer.

He is an intimate friend of Ansu Fati (both say they are like 'brothers') and in April 2019 Barcelona wanted to shield him to try to stop the talent drain that has been taking place in La Masia in recent years (Eric García, Dani Olmo , Sergio Gómez …). For this, Barça had a hard negotiation with Barnett, Moriba's agent and also Bale's. Finally, he extended his relationship for three more years and made him the best paid in the quarry: 2 million euros per year and a clause of € 100M. Thus he chased away the siren songs of City, Juventus and Chelsea, among others, who wanted to sign him.

Despite being born in Guinea Conakry, Moriba has always played for Spain in the lower categories. He played the last U-17 World Cup in Brazil, in which La Rojita fell in the quarterfinals against France. It was one year less than the rest, but he ended up consolidating himself as a starter. Now, when the competition resumes, he hopes to continue helping Barça B for very soon to be able to share costumes in the first team with his ‘brother’ Ansu Fati…