Musa Barrow
{{short description|Gambian footballer (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Musa Barrow
| image = Musa Barrow (cropped).jpg
| caption = Barrow in 2024
| full_name = Musa Barrow
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|11|14}}
| birth_place = Banjul, The Gambia
| height = 1.83 m{{cite web |url=https://www.spl.com.sa/en/players/80600/musa-barrow |title=Musa Barrow |publisher=Saudi Pro League |access-date=1 December 2023}}
| currentclub = Al-Taawoun
| clubnumber = 99
| position = Forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Hawks
| youthyears2 = 2016–2018
| youthclubs2 = Atalanta
| years1 = 2018–2021
| clubs1 = Atalanta
| caps1 = 41
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 2019–2021
| clubs2 = → Bologna (loan)
| caps2 = 56
| goals2 = 17
| years3 = 2021–2023
| clubs3 = Bologna
| caps3 = 66
| goals3 = 9
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = Al-Taawoun
| caps4 = 53
| goals4 = 19
| nationalyears1 = 2018
| nationalteam1 = Gambia U23
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2018–
| nationalteam2 = Gambia
| nationalcaps2 = 47
| nationalgoals2 = 11
| club-update = 20 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 20 March 2025
}}
Musa Barrow (born 14 November 1998) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun and the Gambia national team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesportsdb.com/player/34164236-Musa-Barrow|title=Musa Barrow - TheSportsDB.com|website=www.thesportsdb.com|access-date=20 January 2020}}
Club career
=Early career=
Barrow joined Atalanta in 2016 from The Gambia where he played football locally and in the street, and in his first appearance with the youth squad scored two goals from midfield.{{cite web|url=https://www.atalanta.it/site/paginalive/giovanili/Stagione-2016-2017/2017-04/12-04-Primavera-alla-scoperta-di-Barrow.html|title=Vivaio, Primavera: alla scoperta di... Musa Barrow|website=www.atalanta.it|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729012855/https://www.atalanta.it/site/paginalive/giovanili/Stagione-2016-2017/2017-04/12-04-Primavera-alla-scoperta-di-Barrow.html|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=dead}} He joined the first team squad in 2018 after scoring 19 goals in 15 games for the youth side.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Atalanta/15-01-2018/atalanta-musa-barrow-talento-schiantato-juve-240932225930.shtml|title=Atalanta, ecco il gioiellino Musa Barrow. Ha già schiantato la Juve|date=2 December 2023 |publisher=}}
=Atalanta=
File:Musa Barrow 01 (cropped).jpg
Barrow made his professional debut with Atalanta in a 1–0 Coppa Italia loss to Juventus on 30 January 2018.{{cite web|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/coppa-italia/2018/01/30/atalanta-juventus-diretta-risultato-live-coppa-italia.html|title=Higuain gol, Buffon para rigore: Atalanta-Juve 0-1|first=Sky|last=Sport|date=30 January 2018 |publisher=}} He made his Serie A debut for Atalanta in a 1–1 tie with Crotone on 10 February 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com//football/match/2018/feb/10/crotone-v-atalanta|title=Crotone 1 - 1 Atalanta - Football|website=the Guardian}}
He had his first start on 13 April 2018 in an 0–0 home draw against Inter Milan.{{Cite web|url=http://m.goal.com/e/en-ar/match/atalanta-vs-internazionale/2539090/report|title=Atalanta 0 - 0 Internazionale Match report - 4/14/18 Serie A - Goal.com|website=m.goal.com|language=en|access-date=16 April 2018}}
On 18 September 2019, Barrow made his Champions League debut against Dinamo Zagreb.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/din-zagreb-vs-atalanta/420350|title=Champions League (Sky Sports)|website=SkySports|language=en|access-date=12 December 2019}}
=Bologna=
On 17 January 2020, Barrow moved from Atalanta to Bologna on loan with an obligation to buy for a fee reported to be around €13 million.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-musa-barrow-e-un-giocatore-del-bologna-1338197|access-date=18 January 2020|title=UFFICIALE: Musa Barrow è un giocatore del Bologna}} Soon after his transfer, Barrow became the starting striker under Siniša Mihajlović and became one of their top scorers of the season despite only arriving in January. On 16 December 2020, Barrow scored a spectacular lob from the middle of the pitch in extra time to earn Bologna a 2–2 draw against Spezia.{{Cite web |title=VIDEO: Barrow's wonder goal against Spezia |url=https://www.besoccer.com/new/video-barrow-s-wonder-goal-against-spezia-940759 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=BeSoccer}} He finished the season with 8 goals. On 2 July 2021, Bologna purchased his rights.{{cite web|publisher=Bologna F.C. 1909|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/en/barrow-purchased-outright/|title=Barrow purchased outright|date=2 July 2021}}
On 2 April 2023, Barrow scored a goal in Bologna's 3–0 win against Udinese and dedicated it to Mihajlović, who died in December 2022 from leukemia.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Peter |title=Barrow dedicates goal to Mihajlovic's family in Bologna's win over Udinese |url=https://football-italia.net/barrow-dedicates-goal-to-mihajlovics-family-in-bolognas-win-over-udinese/ |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Football Italia}} It was Barrow's third and final Serie A goal of the season, also adding 8 assists.
= Al-Taawoun =
On 4 September 2023, Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun announced the signing of Barrow on a three-year contract,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=4 September 2023 |title=التعاون يتعاقد مع الغامبي موسى بارو |trans-title=Al-Taawoun signs Gambian Musa Barrow |url=https://altaawounfc.com/ar/news/1027 |access-date= |website= |publisher=Al Taawoun FC |language=ar}} for a reported fee of €8 million, which could rise to €10 million with bonuses.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Mercato - Barrow diretto all'Al Taawoun per 8 milioni |trans-title=Market - Barrow headed to Al Taawoun for 8 million |url=https://www.tuttobolognaweb.it/mercato/mercato-barrow-diretto-allal-taawoun-per-8-milioni/ |access-date= |website=Tutto Bologna Web |language=it-IT}} On 16 September, he scored his first goal on his debut in a 3–2 defeat against Al-Ahli.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/682126 |title=Al Ahli 3–2 Al Taawoun |publisher=ESPN |date=16 September 2023 }}
Style of play
Barrow plays as a left-sided forward. He often uses his pace to run down the left wing or cut inside and shoot at goal.{{Cite web |last=Doria |first=Vito |title=Musa Barrow: Bologna's Gambian Talent |url=https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/musa-barrow-bolognas-gambian-talent/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=Breaking The Lines}} He is known for his incredible powerful shooting, having scored several goals in the Serie A from outside the box.
While predominantly a left-winger, he can also play as a center-forward, second striker, or even an attacking midfielder. He is capable of influencing play from various areas of pitch and adapting to different formation
He received criticism for his lack of goalscoring, but his agent Luigi Sorrentino stated that it is because he has to sacrifice a lot in the defensive phases of the game.{{Cite web |title=Bologna: Musa Barrow's agent explains his statistics |url=https://sportnewsafrica.com/en/breve/bologna-musa-barrows-agent-explains-his-statistics/ |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Sports News Africa}}
International career
On 1 June 2018, Barrow scored the only goal for the Gambia U23s in a 1–0 friendly win over the Morocco U23s.{{cite web|url=http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/u-23-dents-morocco-in-inti-friendly|title=U-23 dents Morocco in Int'I friendly – The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia|website=thepoint.gm|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141913/http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/u-23-dents-morocco-in-inti-friendly|url-status=dead}}
Barrow made his debut for the senior Gambia national football team in a 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification draw with Algeria on 8 September 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afrik-foot.com/can-2019-l-algerie-neutralisee-en-gambie|title=CAN 2019 : l'Algérie neutralisée en Gambie|date=8 September 2018|website=Afrik-Foot}}
He played and scored 2 goals in the tournament in the 2021 Africa cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made a sensational quarter-final.https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa -cup-of-nations/matches/2021/2243295/lineups{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/59746378 | title=The Gambia name squad for first Nations Cup finals | work=BBC Sport }}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 11 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|musa-barrow/529431}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coppa Italia, King's Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Atalanta
|rowspan="3"|Serie A |12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 3 | |||
| 2018–19
|22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 4 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | 52 | 8 | ||
| rowspan="2"|Bologna (loan)
|rowspan="4"|Serie A |18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 9 | |||
| 2020–21
|38 | 8 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 9 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Bologna
|34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 6 | |||
| 2022–23
|32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!122 | 26 | 6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 128 | 27 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Al Taawoun
|rowspan="2"|Saudi Pro League |21 | 6 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 7 | |||
| 2024–25
|25 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 10{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Two}} | 5 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Saudi Super Cup}} | 0 | 39 | 17 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!46 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 24 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!209 | 46 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 243 | 59 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 20 March 2025}}{{NFT|71854|access-date=17 June 2019}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="8"|Gambia
|2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 47 | 11 |
|---|
:Scores and results list Gambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Barrow goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Musa Barrow !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
| align="center"|1 | 12 June 2019 | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco | {{fb|MAR}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|1–0 | Friendly |
| align="center"|2 | 16 November 2020 | Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia | {{fb|GAB}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center" | 2–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| align="center"|3 | 16 January 2022 | Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon | {{fb|MLI}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center" | 1–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| align="center"|4 | 24 January 2022 | Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam, Cameroon | {{fb|GUI}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center" | 1–0 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations |
| align="center"|5 | 29 May 2022 | Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | {{fb|UAE}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|1–1 | Friendly |
| align="center"|6 | 16 November 2023 | National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | {{fb|BDI}} | align="center"|1–2 | align="center"|2–3 | rowspan=2|2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|7 | 8 June 2024 | Berkane Municipal Stadium, Berkane, Morocco | {{fb|SEY}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|5–1 | |
| align="center"|8 | 4 September 2024 | Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida, Morocco | {{fb|COM}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center" |1–1 | rowspan=2|2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| align="center"|9 | 14 October 2024 | Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida, Morocco | {{fb|MAD}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center" |1–0 | |
| align="center"|10 | rowspan=2|20 March 2025 | rowspan=2|Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast | rowspan=2|{{fb|KEN}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center" rowspan=2|3–3 | rowspan=2|2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|11 | align="center"|3–2 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Al-Taawoun FC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Gambia squads
| bg = #0C1C8C
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #CE1126
| list =
{{Gambia squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Gambia squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow, Musa}}
Category:Footballers from Banjul
Category:Gambian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Gambian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:Al Taawoun FC players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:The Gambia men's youth international footballers
Category:The Gambia men's international footballers
Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players
Category:Gambian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Gambian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy