Brighton Star Yalcouyé Faces Age Claims as Old Photos Surface
Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouyé has become the subject of online speculation over his age, despite no evidence supporting claims that the 20-year-old Ivorian has misrepresented his age.
The rumours intensified after he scored his first Brighton goal against Chelsea on August 30, prompting some social media users to question his age based largely on his appearance.
His former youth club, ASEC Mimosas, responded by publishing archived photographs showing Yalcouyé’s physical development from 2018, when he was 12, through 2023. Journalist Dobe Aboubacar also noted that the player’s hair loss in recent years may have contributed to the speculation.
Similar claims have targeted Real Madrid’s 19-year-old Ivorian forward Yan Diomandé, but France 24’s investigation found that photos being used to question his age were misrepresented, while one altered image had been modified using AI.
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