Patrice Sousia

Patrice Sousia
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Samuel Eto'o Academy
2012–2015 Barcelona
2017–2018 Barcelona
2017–2018 → Damm (youth loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Minerva 6 (0)
2019 Tenisca 11 (2)
2020–2021 Calahorra B 21 (3)
2022– Mollerussa 21 (3)
International career
2018 Cameroon U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Patrice Sousia (born 18 January 1999) is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a forward for Mollerussa.

Club career

Born in Douala, Cameroon, Sousia began his career at the Samuel Eto'o Academy, before moving to Spain to join Barcelona in 2012.[3] However, due to his age at the time of signing, this deal came under scrutiny from international body FIFA, who sanctioned Barcelona for the transfer, handing Sousia a ban until he turned eighteen.[4] He was later told by FIFA that he was unable to train at Barcelona's facilities, nor live on the La Masia campus.[5]

After being kicked out of the club, and made homeless by the FIFA verdict, teammate Álex Collado's family offered Sousia refuge, welcoming him into their home.[5] While staying with the Collados, Sousia trained with Prat, the club Álex's brother, Jonathan, played for.[5] At Prat, he was helped by teammate Federico Bessone and manager Pedro Dólera to settle and come to terms with the situation.[6]

He stayed with the Collados for a few weeks, before moving into the Joaquim Blume d'Esplugues - a residence for athletes.[7] On his eighteenth birthday, Sousia returned to Barcelona, who had been covering his expenses while he was banned.[6][8] However, his return was not seen as successful by his coaches, who told him after three months that he would be sold in the summer.[7] Following interest from Cornellà and Damm, he joined the latter on loan in late 2017.[7]

After leaving Barcelona, he played for Tercera División sides Minerva and Tenisca.[9] In July 2020, Sousia signed for Calahorra, being assigned to the club's B team.[3][10]

International career

In 2018, Sousia was called up to the Cameroon national under-20 football team.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 January 2023[2][12]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Minerva 2018–19 Tercera División 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Tenisca 11 2 0 0 0 0 11 2
Calahorra B 2020–21 21 3 0 0 0 0 21 3
Mollerussa 2021–22 Primera Catalana 11 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
2022–23 10 2 2[a] 0 2[b] 2 14 4
Total 21 3 2 0 2 2 25 5
Career total 59 8 2 0 2 2 63 10
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Appearances in the Copa Lleida Amater

References

  1. ^ "Patrice Sousia". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Patrice Sousia at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b "Patrice Sousia firma por el Calahorra B" [Patrice Sousia signs for Calahorra B]. larioja.com (in Spanish). 30 July 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. ^ Gea, Albert (2 April 2014). "FIFA Punishes FC Barcelona For Alleged 'Illegal Deals'". businessinsider.in. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Domènech, Oriol (7 September 2015). "La FIFA echa a Patrice de La Masia" [FIFA throws Patrice out of La Masia]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b Font, Sergi (18 January 2017). "Sousia despierta de su pesadilla con el Barça" [Sousia wakes up from his nightmare with Barça]. abc.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Llimós, Albert (9 November 2017). "Un nen perseguit que només vol ser futbolista" [A persecuted boy who only wants to be a footballer]. ara.ad (in Catalan). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  8. ^ Llimós, Albert (27 February 2017). "La gran víctima de la FIFA pel cas Masia, Patrice Sousia, ja pot jugar amb el Barça" [FIFA's biggest victim in the Masia case, Patrice Sousia, can now play for Barça]. ara.ad (in Catalan). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ "El camerunés Patrice Sousia, nuevo jugador del CD Calahorra B de tercera división" [The Cameroonian Patrice Sousia, new player of the third division CD Calahorra B]. labrujulacalahorra.com (in Spanish). 27 July 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  10. ^ "MERCATO: Patrice Sousia s'engage au CD Calahorra" [MERCATO: Patrice Sousia commits to CD Calahorra]. la-sportive.com (in French). 3 August 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  11. ^ Grífol, Jordi (18 June 2018). "Patrice Sousia, convocado con Camerún sub-20" [Patrice Sousia, called up with Cameroon sub-20]. vavel.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  12. ^ Patrice Sousia at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)