Swiss media highlight Hajdari’s decision to play for Kosovo: A heavy blow

Albian Hajdari’s decision to play for Kosovo rather than Switzerland has caused a stir.

The 22-year-old was born and raised in Switzerland. He played for all of Switzerland’s youth teams and made one appearance for the senior team. But on Monday he decided to represent Kosovo from now on.

Swiss media, which were the first to report the news, have devoted considerable attention to Hajdari’s decision.

“Hajdari also chooses Kosovo over Switzerland,” reads the headline of an article on the Swiss television broadcaster SRF’s website.

Like other media outlets, Swiss television has recounted Hajdari’s past with the “Helvetians”.

“‘A new heart on the pitch’: Hajdari chooses Kosovo,” reads the headline of an article in the newspaper “20 Minuten”.

According to this outlet, the defender has decided against the Swiss national team. “20 Minuten” wrote that Switzerland has been rejected once again.

“Once again, a dual-nationality player chooses with his heart over his country. A heavy blow for the Swiss Football Association, especially given that Hajdari could have tied himself to the Swiss national team by playing just one minute in a competitive match,” “20 Minuten” wrote.

“Blue Sport” highlighted the fact that Hajdari is the third player to leave Switzerland in recent months. Leon Avdullahu has done the same, as has Eman Kospo, who switched to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Blick”, which first reported the news of Hajdari’s decision, wrote of a heavy blow to the Swiss federation, “since the Hoffenheim player has already played for Switzerland and has been called up many times”.

The newspaper wrote of “Agim Ademi’s latest success”.

“Kosovo has worked intensively over the past weeks and months to convince the player and has now once again been rewarded with success. Ademi was again successful in his effort to make Kosovo a priority, more important than the country of birth and upbringing,” “Blick” wrote.

The newspaper also wrote that Hajdari will face considerably less competition in Kosovo than he would have in Switzerland. According to “Blick”, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Aurele Amenda and, most recently, Stefan Gartenmann are rated more highly than Hajdari.