02/09/2024
From Albanian football on Twitter
🇦🇱In the light of Nedim Bajrami’s recent transfer to Rangers for a fee €4m, there are lots of questions regarding who this player is exactly!
🤵🏻♂️I will go into who he is as a person, football player and what to expect from him!
Nedim Bajrami was born in Switzerland to parents of Albanian origin from North Macedonia.
As many other kids of refugees in Switzerland, he of course got the opportunity to maximize his talent and reach heights that no one could dare dream of.
But his story hasn’t always been straight-forward.
🇨🇭Bajrami spent his entire youth career at Grasshoppers before eventually securing a move to Italian side, Empoli.
🇮🇹Bajrami would quickly become a fan favorite in italy, as his performances won the hearts of the Empoli fans.
🦅Most noticeably his last-minute free-kick is a goal that will never be forgotten by Empoli fans.
📉Unfortunately Empoli got relegated and he then ended up at Sassuolo, his time there was not exactly something great as the club were struggling on all fronts.
⚽️He did however manage to score against Inter at the San Siro to hand them their only loss of their fantastic season.
🏴With Sassoulo also getting relegated he now decided to move to Rangers, who play much more attacking football than any of his previous sides, and that suits him very well.
♦️But what type of player is he?
📊Whoscored has made a rough calculation on what type of player he is, and it certainly fits. However he possesses even more strengths as he is excellent at carrying the ball forward and generally likes the big games.
🌗He plays as a proper Trequartista as the Italians call it, elegantier as the French call it and basically as a number 10 which the British call it!
💨Best through the middle however also excellent on the wing!
🇪🇺Bajrami has not had a bad club career so far, however his most noticeable moments has certainly been with the national team.
🇨🇭But being born in Switzerland surely he would represent Switzerland right?
🚨Wrong! He is proud of his Albanian heritage and was willing to go to legal war in order to switch allegiance to the Albanian national team. Bajrami wasn’t allowed to play for Albania, but had his wish granted after taking his case to court through CAS and winning!
🗣️The Swiss coach at the time saying: “We tried our absolute best to keep him, but his heart beats only for Albania and he was very clear regarding what he wanted”
🎗️A loyal guy you must say!
🇦🇱Bajrami played the WC qualifiers of 2022 WC with Albania but didn’t manage to make a huge difference.
📈Albania had problems with their Italian coach’s negative approach and decided to hire the Brazilian Sylvinho instead, a move that made the world of difference for Bajrami!
Bajrami produced a historic european qualifier campaign, in which he scored 3 goals and got an assist. All of which were absolute bangers!
🎯His goal against Czechia away was by far his most important one though. In a game where his now Rangers team-mate Cerny put the Czechs 1–0 up.
😎Albania had their work cut out for them. They only managed ONE shot the whole game, the shot? Bajrami’s magnificent equalizer. 1-1 FT.
Bajrami of course celebrated his goal with the fans as he quite often does.
🥰If the fans support him, he will support them! a very likable guy and a proper fan favorite!
After his fantastic qualifying campaign he also managed to break a historic record!
🤯He scored after just 22 seconds against Italy in the group stages of the Euro’s, and what a goal it was!
🔵⚪️🔴Rangers have got themselves a player that will always leave his mark on the pitch, whilst also being capable of producing moments of magic.
⚔️With the old firm being such a massive fixture, it certainly helps that Bajrami loves the big games too!
🔝A transfer that will end in success!
