Ilaix Moriba is the next talent to knock on the door at Barcelona. The midfielder, who turned eighteen in January, was allowed to play his fifth game in Ronald Koeman’s first against Osasuna (0-2) on Saturday evening and scored his first goal in Pamplona. The newspapers in Spain praise the hand of the Dutchman and the daring of the teenager the day after the duel in LaLiga as soon as he enters the field.
Sport Moriba hands out a seven, the same number as Jordi Alba, Pedri, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé, who had come in at halftime. Only goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen scored higher with an eight in the Catalan sports newspaper, which has dedicated the front page in large letters to Moriba: ‘Súper Ilaix’. “He keeps collecting for minutes. His audacity and audacity were rewarded with a goal, a wonderful shot. ” The Madrid ASH needed few words to describe Moriba’s raid. “Another spectacular appearance. Physically strong, right choices and one golazo. ”
Goal Barça !! 0-2! Ilaix Moriba is making his first at the Blaugrana and what one! ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #OSABAR pic.twitter.com/I2NOdUyu5y
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) March 6, 2021
Marca saw ‘a genius Ilaix’. “What a wonderful promotion. To take off your hat. A powerful shot with the left after cutting out his opponent with the right. Ilaix is part of Barcelona’s future. He seems to be in Koeman’s pecking order above Riqui Puig, judging by the decisions the Dutchman makes. At eighteen years old, Ilaix radiates brutality in the best sense of the word. And enviable courage. ”
The most sold sports newspaper in Spain also reflects on La Quinta de Koeman, ‘the five of Koeman’, “Six children for a decade”, the article says, referring to Ansu Fati, Pedri, Ronald Araújo, Óscar Mingueza, Moriba and Riqui Puig. Although there are not five but six, it is a subtle reference to them La Quinta del Buitre. Those were five Real Madrid youth products that formed the basis of the team that dominated Spanish football in the 1980s, with Emilio El Buitre Butragueño as the most prominent member. “Koeman has always had an eye for talent. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mané, among others, ”the sports newspaper points out to the Dutchman’s earlier periods as coach of Ajax, Valencia and Southampton.
“The arrival of Koeman to Barcelona has resulted in a clear choice for talent, a group of players born in Can Barça which as La Quinta van Koeman can be described “, continues Marca his account. “Six children for ten years, or more, in the first team of Barcelona. That is worth gold. Moriba is not the classic youth player who delivers Barcelona. His physical and walking ability make the midfielder a different footballer. guide and turn him, without delay, into a footballer of the first. ”
‘Hermano’ Ansu Fati
Afterwards, Moriba could hardly believe that he had scored his first goal in the first of Barcelona. “It is still difficult for me to get to the penalty area, but I love to score goals. Leo Messi gave me the ball, I still remember how I cut my opponent and then I shot on goal. I need a moment to process this. I take this to my grave. I will never forget it. I started playing football because I like scoring goals the best. ”
Moriba, like Ansu Fati, scored his first LaLiga goal against Osasuna, in Pamplona and in the same goal. “We have been playing together for years. He’s a brother to me. ” Moriba is happy with the opportunities he gets from Koeman. “There is a lot of competition and you can see that in the training sessions. There are many talents and we have to learn from the more experienced football players. What tips has Messi given me? He always says that I have to come forward. ”