Former Albania national team coach Christian Panucci recently gave an interview to the Italian outlet “Tuttosport,” where he discussed Albanian defender Ardian Ismajli. Panucci revealed how he first called Ismajli up to the Albanian national team when no one in the Albanian Football Federation even knew who he was.
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| Ardian Ismajli and CHirstian Panucci (montage) |
“I’ve known Ismajli for many years now. He has become one of the best defenders in Serie A, and he’s an exceptional young man. I believe he’s ready to make the leap to a big club. I’m not surprised at all that Juventus is tracking him. He would be a very valuable addition for them, and Ardian deserves such an opportunity,” said Panucci.
Discovering Ismajli: Panucci’s Insight
When asked how he discovered Ismajli, Panucci shared: “I’m speaking about this for the first time, and I’m very happy to do so. Back in 2018, when I was coaching the Albanian national team, I traveled around Europe in search of new players to call up. I scouted firsthand and saw Ardian playing in Croatia for Hajduk Split. He immediately caught my eye, so I took steps to speak with him and convince him to choose Albania, as he was already part of Kosovo's national team.”
Convincing Ismajli to Join Albania
Panucci explained how his efforts paid off: “He accepted the Albanian national team because of me and what I had done to persuade him. He’s a man of his word! Kosovo didn’t want to lose him, but Ardian kept the promise he made to me. No one in the Albanian federation knew who he was when I first called him up; they had no idea. If it hadn’t been for me, Ismajli would never have come to play for Albania.”
Through Panucci’s vision and persistence, Ardian Ismajli was introduced to the Albanian national team, and today, he is one of Serie A’s standout defenders, possibly on the verge of joining a top club like Juventus.