Muriqi, from the war to Lazio: a story of redemption

Behind football there is more, perhaps everything. Because the story of Muriqi is suffering, fear, death, war. Kosovar from Prizren, at the age of six, took refuge in Albania after a long journey from house to house, without a car: “There were 50 of us, we slept in the basement and we had 2 liters of milk to feed people.” His mother was crying, not only because of the war: “We ate bread and onions for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Muriqi had nothing, he saw everything, and the move to Lazio is worth more.

Kosovo

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Vedat, 26, will play the Champions League after a lifetime of learning: 5 years ago he played for Giresunspor, Turkish Serie B, 17 goals. In January 2018, he chose to return to the Second Division to marry the Rizespor project. Challenge won: 8 goals, promotion and 17 goals the following year. Pupil of Okan Buruk, the former Inter meteor who is now a coach. “He is the best striker in all of Turkey.” The country that made it great and that years ago tried to naturalize it. Dry ‘No’. “I have always dreamed of playing for Kosovo.” And it will. In 2016 his country was recognized by FIFA and Muriqi became its main forward: 8 goals in 23 games, best scorer of the national team. A thought for the family and another for Dad, a former footballer, who died of a heart attack on the pitch during a game. Muriqi named his son after him.

Suffering

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Kosovo coach Bernard Challandes described him as “a fighter”. “One who plays every game as if it were his last.” Typical of those who come from the Balkans, an area of ​​the world with deep scars, black and white postcards that are best kept in a drawer. Some examples: Dzeko was saved from a bomb explosion because his mother forbade him to go to play. Lovren, Croatian, Zenit center-back and European champion with Liverpool, had a childhood as a refugee. He fled to Germany after 17 hours of travel with the whole family. Senad Lulic, Muriqi’s future teammate, was born in Mostar, the city of Stari Most, the bridge that divided (and divides) Christians from Muslims, destroyed by bombs and rebuilt after the conflict. A wound still open.

Fortune

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Muriqi is one of them, he also saw death on the face. One morning, the Serbian militias found him and his family hiding inside a house, but the security of the rifles remained closed: “They took valuables and money. They told us that they would bomb our house if we did not escape in two hours . We are. Been protected by Allah. ” About scars. Finally, in 2016, he spent on behalf of Syrian children during the civil war, sending money. “When I turn on the TV and I see those images, I see myself and my family, I had to do something.”

A league

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Now he comes to Lazio to play his cards, pursued and wanted by the ds Tare. Paid 18 million, it is the second most expensive purchase of the Lotito era after Zarate. More than Correa, Hernanes, Lazzari and Milinkovic. A fact: last year he scored 17 goals with Fenerbahce (the team he has always supported, thanks to his grandfather) and three with Kosovo (one also against England at Wembley). A physical and mobile attacker, for Boruk “3-5-2 can exalt him.” For Challandes “better with Correa than with Immobile”. Fenerbahce member Max Kruse said it “reminded him of Lewandowski.” Tall, stocky, 1.94 cm of sheer power. 75 goals between professionals and the hunger of those who do not give up. Rather think and remember where it all started. Wet eyes, this time it’s not the onions.