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| Nedim Bajrami performing the double-headed eagle after the goal against Moldova |
"I have chosen Albania with my heart. I am happy to be Albanian. I am proud! I am delighted to be part of the National Team," declared Nedim Bajrami, the national team footballer, in the spring of 2021. He scored a fantastic goal against the Czech Republic, equalizing in a memorable match held in Prague, valid for the European Championship qualifiers, local media reports.
However, the 24-year-old born in Switzerland to a father from Tetova and a mother from Gostivar didn't have an easy journey to reach the "kuqezinjtë" (the Albanian national team). Lapsi.al has been following the trajectory of this young man who had previously played for Swiss youth teams, excelling there. Later, he moved from Grasshoppers to Italy as a midfielder for Empoli.
At the age of 21, he significantly contributed to his team's promotion from the second division to Serie A, scoring ten goals and providing almost as many assists. At this peak of his young career, he was about to play in the European championship for 21-year-olds with Switzerland, having played over 50 matches for various Swiss youth teams. It was precisely at this moment that the Albanian blood in his veins pulsed. He chose a different path than his predecessors Xhaka, Shaqiri, or Berhami. He refused to wear the colors of the country that had adopted him.
🇦🇱 Nedim Bajrami scores an absolute SCREAMER for Albania 🇦🇱
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) September 7, 2023
That flew off his boot. Unbelievable stuff in Prague.
Watch #EURO2024 qualifiers on #OptusSport. pic.twitter.com/XJYHzeJsvI
He said "No" to the invitation to represent Switzerland in the European tournament to be held in Slovenia and Hungary. This news was received with great disappointment among the "Nati" fans.
In the archive of Lapsi.al, there is an article from the major newspaper "Le Temps" in Geneva, which wrote in March 2021: "A heavy blow for the Swiss U-21 team, which is preparing to compete in the European Nations Championship at the end of the month: They will no longer have the services of Nedim Bajrami, who had made eight appearances and scored a goal in ten qualifying matches. Empoli's attacking midfielder is not injured. He simply decided to wear Albania's jersey."
"We made great efforts to convince Nedim to continue playing for Switzerland. However, he made it clear that his heart beats stronger for Albania. Identification is a fundamental value when it comes to playing for the Swiss national team. This is why we had no other solution but to let him go," said the coach at the time, Mauro Lustrinelli.
Despite this statement, things were not that simple. The Swiss federation appealed this decision, and initially, FIFA supported it. The world football governing body rejected the request from the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) for Bajrami to be allowed to play for Albania, claiming that he had played for Switzerland in four matches after turning 21. The issue remained suspended until the Albanian federation decided not to give up and follow Bajrami's case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
The request submitted in June 2021 was reviewed in August of the same year, and finally, Nedim Bajrami was allowed to play for Albania. He made his debut in September of the same year at Elbasan Arena against Hungary, causing controversy as the camera captured him remaining silent during the execution of the national anthem, which apparently the young man raised in Switzerland didn't know the words to.
But what he couldn't do with his voice, Nedim Bajrami knows how to do with his feet. He scored the first goal with the "kuqezinjtë" (the Albanian national team) in the victory against Moldova (2-0), and this Thursday in Prague, he executed what he called the most beautiful goal of his career so far.