Latte Lath reflects on childhood move and Union Berlin chapter
Emmanuel Latte Lath remembers leaving Ivory Coast as a child and moving to Italy to join his father. He says the freedom of street football with friends shaped him before he joined an organised team in Europe. The 27-year-old, now at Union Berlin, reflects on adapting to a new life and language.
Emmanuel Latte Lath was born in Ivory Coast and learned at six that he would move to Italy, making the trip at eight to live with his father. Before organized European football, he played informal matches with five friends, often against other towns, in a competitive street setting.
He entered Atalanta’s academy in 2015 and later scored against Juventus in his third Coppa Italia match, though it proved his only senior goal for the club. He then spent five years on loan at eight sides in Switzerland and Italy’s lower divisions before joining Union Berlin.
Latte Lath’s story could resonate with young migrants and families separated by migration, showing how sport may offer belonging and routine during adaptation. It may also encourage clubs and academies to consider how language support and mentorship affect young players’ settlement. For fans, the narrative could humanize the often transient loan system, though its broader social effect is likely modest and depends on how widely the story is shared.