VALLE (Nettavisen): The summer transfer window closed just a few days ago after frantic weeks for several clubs in Eliteserien. The past period has seen several major transfers in and out of Norwegian football, with top clubs Bodø/Glimt, Vålerenga and Lillestrøm bringing home notable names.
Among them is the stopper of the national team Stefan Strandberg.
I think we are all, and at least Patrick (Berg’s editor’s note) has received many other offers. I myself turned down offers and could have gone on in the top flight, but that made me come home here and raise Vålerenga, Strandberg tells Nettavisen.
Large transfer amounts and many profiles back home to Norway
The 32-year-old signed a longer contract with the Oslo club this summer. Thomas Lehne Olsen did the same with Lillestrøm after a short but profitable stay in Dubai. At the same time, Bodø/Glimt splashed big money on the table, amounting to NOK 40 million according to Nettavisen information, to buy Patrick Berg back from Ligue 1.
Players view the fact that many notable names have returned to Norway as positive, but also normal.
I think Norwegian football has been on an upward curve for a long time. Especially this year, with four teams in Europe that have asserted themselves a little bit, I think there are exciting things happening in Norwegian football. Lyn Olsen tells Nettavisen it’s fun to be back.
In addition to Strandberg, Vålerenga has secured Genk’s Simen Juklerød and Torgeir Børven from Turkish football. LSK has signed Marius Lundemo after a stint in Cypriot football, as well as many other exciting young names.
In addition to Berg, champions Glimt has also spent big on Denmark’s Albert Groenbeck of AGF Aarhus, Lars Jürgen Salvesen of Stromsgodst and Nino Tsugeli of Maribor, Slovenia. In addition, Marius Lode returned after an unsuccessful stay at Schalke 04 in Germany. Several other players also signed for Aspmyra over the summer.
“Hopefully with so many profiles coming back in, we can help raise the bar in Norwegian football,” says Strandberg of this trend.
He points out that matches such as Sunday’s rivalry match between VIF and LSK in front of the crowded stands in Oslo help to reinforce the positive winds blowing over Norwegian football clubs during the day.
Matches like this are very golden and I hope everyone here in the stands and at home can enjoy themselves. We need more matches like this to raise product and interest. Of course, it helps that we are very few profiles who have gone home. Obviously, we take people with us,” Strandberg tells Nettavisen.
Funding is an important part, even if not everyone likes to say that
In addition to the three clubs mentioned above, Molde and Rosenborg have also spent large sums this summer. Christian Eriksen’s move from HamKam to the City of Roses was massive by Norwegian standards. In Trondheim, RBK put up to ten million on the table for the immediate successful striker Kasper Tungstedt of Denmark.
Expert VIF coach Dag-Eilev Fagermo has been involved in Norwegian football for a number of years. He is happy that stocks can now point in a positive direction for many Norwegian clubs.
There is more money in Norwegian football. Better salaries, says Vajirmo to Netavizen with a sly smile.
With another season of group matches in the European Cup this fall, Glimt and his generator are also making several new million in their accounts.
Fagermo is well aware that well-known names such as Strandberg, Børven and Juklerød do not return to Oslo to “play for free”. Of course, money plays an important role.
– I think finances are an important part, even if not everyone likes me by saying that, continues Fajirmo
Explain:
– Perhaps we have to be honest to say it, even if some people don’t like to talk about it. There are Norwegian clubs that can match what you can get out of. If you’re going to get a little serious, it’s important that we can also match the “middle leagues” of Europe. Otherwise, we would be too young.
– There was a period when they paid better in the second division in Turkey and Cyprus. Then the players disappear there and it’s not necessarily good for that to happen in terms of player development and especially for our league, he said.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the fact that Norwegian clubs have outperformed the competition in terms of resources by our neighboring countries.
– If we’re going to compete with Denmark and Sweden, which are important leagues with which we should be able to compete – then we’ve fallen behind. Denmark in particular, and we are still far behind – but it is linked to several things.
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– If we were to sell to Belgium and Holland, they would also take a lot of the pie if the player progresses, rather than being able to take more of it ourselves. Fagermo explained that this will enable Norwegian football to grow.
He points out that a club like Dutch Campore, who wanted to buy a star player in Vålerenga Osame Sahraoui this summer “is a club that is too small for them”.
– She’s no better than us. We must have some snow in our stomachs, then there will be more fun opportunities, concludes the VIF coach.
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