Adam Masina Explained

Adam Masina
Fullname:Adam Masina[1]
Birth Date:2 January 1994
Birth Place:Khouribga, Morocco
Height:1.89 m
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Torino
Clubnumber:5
Youthyears1:2001–2014
Youthclubs1:Bologna
Youthyears2:2011–2012
Youthclubs2:Giacomense (loan)[2]
Years1:2012–2018
Clubs1:Bologna
Caps1:131
Goals1:4
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Giacomense (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2022
Clubs3:Watford
Caps3:80
Goals3:3
Years4:2022–2024
Clubs4:Udinese
Caps4:18
Goals4:2
Years5:2024
Clubs5:Torino (loan)
Caps5:16
Goals5:0
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Torino
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2015–2017
Nationalteam1:Italy U21
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021–
Nationalteam2:Morocco
Nationalcaps2:16
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:14 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:10 December 2022

Adam Masina (; born 2 January 1994) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Italian club Torino, and the Morocco national team.

Coming through Bologna's youth academy, Masina made his senior appearance with the club in 2012, and transferred to Watford in 2018. He was also loaned to Giacomense twice.

Masina was born in Morocco but moved to Italy at a young age. He initially represented Italy at an international level of under-21, before switching to play for the Morocco national team in 2021.

Club career

Masina was born in Khouribga, Morocco, but lost his mother as just an infant. He successively moved to Italy together with his brother and father, settling down in Emilia-Romagna, and was later assigned to a number of foster families due to his father's problems with alcoholism. He was eventually adopted by one of them, from which he took his last name.[3]

After a successful loan in Giacomense, Masina returned to Bologna in 2013 and made his senior debut for the Rossoblu in a 2–1 away victory over Latina on 12 October 2014.[4] He helped the club obtain Serie A promotion, later debuting in the top division, and scoring his first goal in Serie A in an injury time victory at Carpi.[5]

On 2 July 2018, Masina signed for English club Watford on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[6]

On 18 July 2022, Masina signed a three-year contract with Italian club Udinese.[7] On 1 February 2024, he moved on loan to Torino, with an option to buy.[8]

On 14 June 2024, Torino announced that they had activated their option to buy, Masina signing a two-year contract.[9]

International career

In November 2015, Luigi Di Biagio called Masina to represent Italy U21 team after obtaining FIFA transfer.[10] He debuted with the Italy U21 side on 17 November 2015, in a Euro 2017 qualification match against Lithuania.[5]

In March 2021, Masina was called up to represent Morocco in African Cup of Nations qualifier matches against Mauritania and Burundi,[11] debuting on 26 March 2021 against the former.[12]

Style of play

Masina is known in particular for his technique, physicality and energy as a left-back.[5]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Giacomense2012–13Lega Pro Seconda Divisione1100000110
Bologna2013–14Serie A00000000
2014–15Serie B2810000281
2015–16Serie A3321000342
2016–17Serie A3212000341
2017–18Serie A3401000350
Total1274400!01314
Watford2018–19Premier League1404020200
2019–20Premier League2611010281
2020–21Championship2521000262
2021–22Premier League1500010160
Total803604000903
Udinese2022–23Serie A1221000132
Career total230911040002459

Honours

Watford

Individual

2015[14]

2021

2020–21[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 3 September 2018. 4 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Comunicato Ufficiale N°29/TB (2011–12). 26 October 2011. Lega B. it. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202942/http://www.lega-pro.com/sito/images/stories/com/1112-29tb.pdf. 4 March 2016.
  3. News: Watford's Adam Masina: "What I went through was different from normal life". The Guardian. 7 February 2020. 1 June 2021.
  4. News: Latina vs. Bologna line-ups. Goal. 12 October 2014.
  5. Web site: Un 2015 da favola per Masina. UEFA. 29 December 2015. 13 September 2016. it.
  6. News: Official: Masina Moves To Watford. 2 June 2019. Watford F.C.. 7 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190707064923/https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/official-masina-moves-watford. 7 July 2019. dead.
  7. Web site: Adam Masina è bianconero. Udinese. 18 July 2022. 19 July 2022. it.
  8. Web site: Masina al Toro. Masina at Toro. Torino FC. 1 February 2024. it.
  9. Web site: TORO E MASINA, AVANTI INSIEME. TORO AND MASINA, FORWARD TOGETHER. Italian. www.torinofc.it. 14 June 2024. 14 June 2024.
  10. Web site: Arrivato il transfert dalla FIFA: Di Biagio convoca il difensore del Bologna Masina. FIFA transfer has arrived: Di Biagio calls up Bologna defender Masina. Italian Football Federation. 10 November 2015. 15 December 2015. it. https://web.archive.org/web/20160708055254/http://www.figc.it/it/204/2530263/2015/11/News.shtml. 8 July 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: Internationals: Eleven Hornets Called Up. Watford F.C.. 20 March 2021.
  12. News: Graeme. Jackson. Morocco held in Nouakchott. African Football. 26 March 2021.
  13. News: Phil . McNulty. Manchester City 6–0 Watford. BBC Sport . 18 May 2019 . 18 May 2019.
  14. News: Oscar del Calcio, dominio Juve. Buffon: "Donnarumma ha doti da grande". Serie A Oscars, Juve dominate. Buffon: "Donnarumma has the characteristics to be great". La Gazzetta dello Sport. 14 December 2015. it.
  15. News: 2021 EFL Awards winners announced . EFL . 12 February 2024.