Lazio threaten legal action after claims Cameroon 17 year-old Joseph Minala is actually 41

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Lazio have threatened legal action against anyone who questions the age of their 17-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Minala.

The Serie A club have even been forced to release his birth certificate, which they claim is "absolutely legitimate", following a report by Senagalese media that he is in fact 41.

Minala himself has also been questioned on social media after he posted pictures showing him looking much older than his teenage years suggest.

In a statement, Lazio said: "We reserve the right to take action against those responsible for the protection of the good name of the company and the footballer."

The midfielder also issued a statement via the club's website denying he actually told a Senagalese website - senego.net - that he is 41.

He said: "I have read the alleged statements posted on the website senego.net in which it says I confessed my real age which was different to what was stated in my [official] documents.

"They are false statements that have been attributed to me by people who do not know."

Minala joined the Rome club last summer and recently played for them in the Viareggio Cup youth tournament.

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