Once wanted by Barca and Man City, now he's hoping for Lommel

OTHER He was 12 years old when he could move from Anderlecht to Barcelona and 13 years old to Manchester City. Today Evangelos Patoulidis is 18 years old and the former Anderlecht top talent tries to get a contract with 1B club Lommel United.


November 2013. Big Barcelona wants to get Patoulidis, then 12 years old, to its youth academy. Father Patoulidis declines the offer: Evangelos' brother, who is two years older and also plays at Anderlecht, is not allowed to join. So, the Patoulidis family wants their son to continue his school in Belgium.

Spring 2015. Patoulidis now enjoys interest from Manchester City. The English sit around the table with Anderlecht and want to make an agreement to take over the attacking midfielder on his 16th birthday. Anderlecht want to keep him, but father Patoulidis wants to leave now. Anderlecht ask for two million euros, City offers one and a half. There is no agreement.

Summer 2017. The star of Patoulidis is fading. So much so that Anderlecht will not offer him a contract on his 16th birthday. Patoulidis leaves for Standard with his brother.

 Summer 2020. Patoulidis is at the end of the contract with Standard and there is no new agreement. At the age of 18 (he turns 19 in September), the top talent of a few years ago is clubless. For several days, Patoulidis trains with Lommel United from 1B in the hope of securing a contract.

Staying at Anderlecht over a step to a European top club is not always a guarantee for a good career. The feet and the head are the determining factors.