At 19, Emmanuel Biumla now has more Ligue 1 matches than Ligue 2. On Sunday, the adopted Bordeaux resident, who arrived on the banks of the Garonne at 13 after growing up in Bondy, played with Angers in Montpellier (success 3-1) his 11th match of the season in the top flight. A tenth start which makes him the member of the last generations shaped at the Girondins to have started the most matches behind his eldest Dilane Bakwa (22 years old, Strasbourg, 17 matches all starting).
All today in the elite, Junior Mwanga (21 years old, Strasbourg, 3 starts), Jacques Ekomié (21 years old, Angers, 4), Logan Delaurier-Chaubet (22 years old, Almere/Celje, 6), Mathys Angély ( 17 years old, Wolsburg, 0), Mathias De Amorim (20 years old, Famaliçao, 0), Julien Vétro (19 years old, Dundee FC, 0), Yaël Mouanga (18 years old, Montpellier, 1) continued their apprenticeship. Marvin De Lima (20 years old, Paris Atletico, N1), Lenny Pirringuel (20 years old, QRM, N1), David Tebili (19 years old, Troyes reserve, N3) or other Emilien Makagni (20 years old, Alavès reserve, Spanish D4) attempt to climb the ladder via lower rungs.
“Emmanuel is indisputable today. He exudes serenity, is impactful in duels and is complementary with Jordan Lefort” points out Charentais-Maritime and former Angevin defender Malik Couturier.
Spoiled for choice
The dazzlingness with which the Franco-Ivorian imposed himself was not expected. “In a 4-man defense and a team that is very demanding defensively, I didn’t think he would establish himself so quickly,” notes former Bordeaux coach David Guion. Alex (Dujeux, Angers coach) trusted him and that’s great for him. We see the Manu we know: his qualities with the ball, in reading the game and his room for improvement in aggressiveness, on the trickster side. It will come with experience. »
Launched in central defense in August 2023 by Guion in Ligue 2, the midfielder became a starter with Albert Riera for five consecutive matches following the departure of Stian Gregersen in January. A hamstring injury, which he relapsed during his return against Paris FC on March 30, stopped him. “But we had confidence in his body and his qualities,” said his agent Jack Blouet.
Other clubs too. Anderlecht would have been ready in July to pay 2 million euros (and a resale incentive) in July for the French international (3 U19 selections, 5 U20) when the Bordeaux leaders wanted 5 million. When the Girondins fell, his contract was terminated, and around “fifteen clubs” took positions. Angers sports director Laurent Boissier was the most convincing. “He knew the player well. He told us that Emmanuel would be put in the competition. He could have signed a 5-year contract in England but we wanted an intermediary. At your age, you need to play. The objective is to have a full season and to obtain maintenance. It’s educational,” continues Jack Blouet.
After three defeats for his new club in as many days, Biumla was able to seize his first opportunity in the 4th to pass in front of the experienced Bamba and Houtoundji. With him starting, the SCO only lost twice, when they lost six times out of seven without him. With quality stats for a rookie: 61% of duels won (62% in the air), 87% of successful passes, no cards (64% of successful tackles).
Scorer against Paris SG
Against Paris SG (2-4), the holder of the Baccalaureate and driving license scored his first goal in the elite and “he should have scored a hat-trick! » laughs Jack Blouet, the young player having come up against Donnaruma twice. Among the Bleuets, it is used by Bernard Diomède in the middle, notably with the winning goal against Morocco (5-4) in November.
Malik Couturier, who met the person concerned in Bordeaux then Angers during his missions for the UNFP, also highlights the “discreet” personality. “He is the young man in the middle of experienced players, with two defensive midfielders (Aholou and Belkebla), a goalkeeper (Fofana) who have skills,” slips the former player. “The walk between Bordeaux and Angers is not huge and he has the ability to adapt well to his environment. The question was the digestion of the Ligue 1 context but he seems to adapt to it, notably with more time in ball exits which highlight his strengths as a footballer. For a coach, his tactical versatility can allow him to do many things” points out David Guion.
The last selection, in November, was however marked by a muscular problem which deprived him of a month of competition, recalling a “fragility” against which he is fighting. “A protocol had been put in place in Bordeaux with exercises to warm up,” says Jack Blouet. It is pushed even further in Angers with adapted bodybuilding sessions. He feels very good. » To the point that his name is starting to circulate for the French junior team.
With Mwanga, crossed trajectories
The comparison is necessarily tempting. Training midfielder, Emmanuel Biumla reveals himself in L1 in defense. A basic defender, ex-Bordelais Junior Mwanga (21) discovered the elite last season in Strasbourg in the middle. After finding a place with Patrick Vieira during the last financial year (22 appearances including 17 tenures), he is in more difficulty today (8 appearances including 3 tenures, none since the end of November). “Junior wanted to settle into the midfield role where he enjoyed it,” analyzes their ex-coach David Guion. However, I think that if he had wanted to invest defensively, he has all the qualities of a very high level. In the middle, he lacks chest. Manu, we will see his position evolve over time. He understood that the importance was to play, even in central defense. He must now become more of a defender at heart, but this weekend again (in Montpellier), he managed his match very well. »
