Barcelona Saved My Life: Dongou's Tale of Catalan Identity, Eto'o's Poison Fears, and a Dream Realized
23 January 2026
From Barcelona's Academy to a Life-Changing Moment
Jean Marie Dongou, Cameroon-born and once among Barcelona's brightest youth prospects, discusses his football journey and says that in Spain he faced more discrimination based on Catalan identity than on race.
Beyond Racism: The Catalan Bias and Barcelona's Help
In an interview with Postunited, he says he did not experience direct racism, but he felt discrimination tied to his Catalan identity.
Dongou explains that Barcelona saved his life and that of his family. He was earning substantial sums at thirteen, which allowed him to support his parents and pay his sisters' university fees, starting to help them that early.
He describes how he was chosen from about 300 boys through the Samuel Eto'o Foundation, reduced to 60, then 12 before Barcelona signed three; he was one of them.
The club provided housing, education, and training, enabling him to progress to Barca B and eventually make his first-team debut in 2013 under coach Tata Martino.
Dongou also reveals stories from the Cameroon national team, noting that Eto'o sometimes avoided meals with teammates to prevent poisoning, and once refused to play if Dongou took the field.
He concludes that, although his career did not meet early expectations, it was enough to save his family and grant him a new life thanks to Barcelona.
Punchline 1: If life is a pitch, Barcelona bought him for the price of a decent breakfast.
Punchline 2: Eto'o worried about poisoning, not the offside trap—don't mess with a striker's safety plan.
