Hero in Montpellier and Rome, appeared in Lyon: the strange career of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
You can be a hero, even for just one day. A concept he found in David Bowie his prophet on the musical piano, while in football he had and continues to have more interpreters.
The protagonist of this story is called Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and was born on May 15, 1989 in Bangui, in the Central African Republic.
Chosen by Gol
Growing up in a country where poverty is the rule and where military coups are punctuated annually is anything but easy, which is why the Yanga-Mbiwa family sets out in search of better luck with a ticket to Europe.
At 8, Mapou with luggage moved to Port-De-Boucseaside town in the south of France.
Solving homework is a much more pleasant annoyance to deal with than the possibility of finding yourself in the midst of a mathematical conflict in the course of yet another military assault on the Central African presidential palace, which is why the young man manages to reconcile school commitments with sport.
In particular, he shows a certain confidence with the ball between his feet, standing out due to a certain size that makes him easily distinguishable among his peers.
Hence, at 16, Yanga-Mbiwa enters the youth academy of Montpelliermost representative team of the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
It is not a good period for the team in the blue and orange jersey, which plays in the middle parts of Ligue 2 and does not seem to be able to go further.
In his two years with the Primavera, Mapou shows himself as one of the most interesting emerging talents in the nursery, also finding the satisfaction of the debut among the professionals before the promotion to the First team.
The central becomes the reference point of the bluarancio defense in the following two seasons, with the 2008/2009 one that culminates with the return to Ligue 1 found after five years.
A constant rise, which also leads him to the French Under 21 national team. But it is Kidney Gillardcoach chosen by Montpellier for the first experience in the first division after five years, which Yanga-Mbiwa finds the consecration.
The Vauvert coach has the great merit of setting up, in just two years, a team able to go and get his first historic French titlesurprisingly winning the Ligue 1 in front of Ancelotti’s PSG and the huge Qatari finances.
It is therefore normal that the elements of that training able to accomplish the feat, in which in addition to that of Yanga-Mbiwa stand out names like Olivier Giroud and Beniamino Ibexyou start attracting the attention of other European teams.
In the summer following the celebrations, Mapou decides to change scenery and go to the Premier League. The Newcastle puts him under contract after having authorized an 8 million transfer with Montpellier as beneficiary.
The experience in England, however, turns out to be much more difficult than expected for the now naturalized French power plant.
While playing the starter for almost the entire season, totaling almost 50 games in two years between league and cups, the feeling with Mr. Alan Pardew does not shoot.
The magpies make him understand that between him and the coach the choice hangs in favor of the second. From the parts of Romewhere a defender is sought to complete the department made up of Kostas Manolas, Leandro Castan and Davide Astori.
The Giallorossi ds Walter Sabatini sniffs the deal and takes him to the capital just a few minutes from the bell that marks the end of the transfer market.
Thus, on 31 August 2014, Yanga-Mbiwa goes to Roma on loan with the obligation of 5.5 million redemption linked to attendance.
At the starting line he should therefore be the fourth defender, but a series of circumstances lead him to become Garcia’s first choice to join Manolas.
In fact, Astori is unable to maintain the constant performance expected of him at the time of his engagement, while Castan is forced to a long stop due to a cavernoma in the cerebellum which reduces his career potential.
Yanga-Mbiwa’s own performance is far from applause, but the Frenchman shows a great sense of self-denial and sacrifice for the cause.
Sabatini himself helps him to keep the ownership, who in the transfer window takes the Argentine to the court of Rudi Garcia Nicola Spolli (a presence in the Giallorossi, a penalty kick against procured for a decidedly avoidable foul in the last championship match at the Olimpico against Palermo).
The last part of the championship of Rome, which the year before with the French coach scored the record of points (85) while closing behind the second place in the standings at Juventus, is characterized by great difficulties.
Access to the Champions League, a sine qua non condition in Trigoria to maintain a certain financial balance, was put to the test by a considerable slowdown in the Giallorossi team.
In the whole second round, Roma totaled only six wins in 17 games played, while on the other side of the Tiber Stefano’s Lazio Pegs she becomes the protagonist of an unexpected ride that brings her close to the second place occupied by the Giallorossi.
We arrive at May 25, the date of the penultimate day that foresees the derby from the calendar. A game that in addition to the usual city supremacy this time is giving away a direct place in the Champions League.
Pioli’s team sees the possibility of definitively failing the championship of its rivals and finally returning to the Champions League after 8 years of absence.
The game, moved to Monday amidst the controversy to recover energy at Lazio after the knockout with Juventus in the final of the Italian Cup, is blocked and very nervous.
You arrive 5 minutes from time on the result of 1-1, with Djordjevic which responds to the initial Roma advantage signed by Juan Manuel Iturbe.
And this is where Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is awarded the hero award for a day. The central player heads a cross from Pjanic’s free-kick, beating Marchetti and scoring the goal that gives Roma 3 points and a mathematical second place.
A goal made even more special by the fact that the defender did not score a goal in a game from 1131 days.
The network with which to obtain an honorary entrance into the “Salone degli”heroes of the derby“is not enough to ensure that Yanga-Mbiwa belongs in the capital.
In the summer comes an offer of about 10 million of Lyonwith Sabatini in spite of himself forced to accept and communicate his decision to the boy.
“I have never had this under the eye of a footballer – will tell once – he didn’t speak anymore, he widened his eyes for 10 minutes and then he left. Those 10 minutes killed me“.
The return to France is initially positive, but then its performance enters a downward spiral with no possibility of recovery. After two years as a starter, Yanga-Mbiwa was trapped in one golden prisonhostage to a salary that is too high and absolutely unjustified compared to his surrender on the field.
The last match played at the level by the official defensive center dates back to November 29, 2017. After a couple of appearances with team B, until his contract expires.
At 32, Yanga-Mbiwa still wants to question himself and is looking for a team to end a career that has given him so much satisfaction, but also so many moments of oblivion.