Former AS Roma and Cameroonian midfielder, Joseph Bouasse has died at the age of 21. The promising footballer was said to have died after suffering a heart attack on Sunday night.
The Cameroonian represented the Serie A side’s prestigious academy following a successful trial in 2016.
A club statement read: “The club is desperately saddened to learn of the untimely death of former Primavera player, Joseph Bouasse Perfection.
“The thoughts of everyone at AS Roma are with all those closest to him.”
Former Roma defender Antonio Rudiger, now of Chelsea, added on social media: “Horrible news – I’m so sad about it. Rest in peace, my brother. A young talent gone too soon from us. Condolences to the entire family!” he said.
While he never played for the first-team, he did train alongside the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti in Rome.
Joseph Bouasse made his professional debut for Serie B side Vicenza while on loan from Roma in 2017.
Prior to his passing, he represented Universitatea Cluj in Romania, having signed for them in February.
Joseph Bouasse arrived in Italy at 16 alongside other child refugees from Cameroon, seeking a new life in Europe.
He was approached by a man who promised him a career as a footballer, but when he arrived at Rome’s Termini Station he was abandoned and alone.
Joseph Bouasse, just a teenager a world away from his family, sought refuge at a local centre. He was picked up by Liberi Nantes Italy’s only team made up solely of refugees.
There he began to enjoy himself and rediscovered his passion for life.
Roma XIs and “legends” teams regularly play friendlies against Liberi Nantes — and the Italian giants were alerted to a “special” talent within the side.
And that was how Bouasse was spotted. He was brought to the Trigoria training ground in July 2015 and began to train with the youth team.
He signed his first senior contract as soon as he turned 18, and was invited to first-team training on a number of occasions by Luciano Spalletti.
And at one point, he was even being tutored by Roma legend De Rossi himself.