Marek Hamsik at Landvetter: expected to be ready for IFK

Of: Henrik Lundgren, Michael Wagner

Published: March 7, 2021 at 11:01 p.m.
Updated: March 7, 2021 at 11:53 p.m.

FOOTBALL

LANDVETTER. Late on Sunday night, a big step was taken in what is about to become the biggest transfer in Allsvenskan history.

Marek Hamsik, 33, has landed in Gothenburg.

Hundreds of IFK Gothenburg singing fans met the big star at Landvetter Airport.

Earlier on Sunday, Sportbladet was able to report that the 33-year-old captain of the Slovak national team would land in Gothenburg on Sunday night.

So it was.

From Slovakia via Vienna and Frankfurt, Marek Hamsik landed at 10.30pm at Landvetter Airport on the outskirts of Gothenburg.

Fans hung on scarves

A few minutes after 11pm, Marek Hamsik emerged into the arrivals hall in his classic Mohawk hairstyle, black mouth guard and a thick, colorful jacket.

Hundreds of supporters took pictures and hung blue and white scarves around Hamsik’s neck as they chanted about “Marek, Marek.”

In a slight chaos of joy, IFK Gothenburg club director Håkan Mild and sporting director Pontus Farnerud welcomed the big star on behalf of the club and brought him to the Volvo waiting for Mild.

Outside, the song continued and some smoke torches were occasionally lit before the car with Hamsik, Farnerud and Mild headed towards central Gothenburg.

Sportbladet and several other news companies were also on hand to monitor Hamsik’s arrival.

Photo: Henrik Lundgren.

Marek Hamsik surrounded by supporters in Landvetter.

The Slovakian is expected to be examined by a doctor and sign the contract with IFK Gothenburg on Monday.

The team, which left the Swedish Cup after 1-1 away to IFK Norrköping on Sunday, will train at 12 noon on Valhalla’s artificial turf in central Gothenburg on Monday.

The 33-year-old, a Napoli icon, is the player who played the most games and scored the second-highest number of goals at the club.

But after 12 seasons in Naples, Hamsik moved to the Chinese league and Dalian Pro, where he played the last two seasons, last year alongside Marcus Danielson, formerly Djurgården, and Sam Larsson, formerly among others at IFK Gothenburg.

Transfer window open

The midfielder recently broke the deal with Dalian and in search of training and matches before the Eurocup play-off with Slovakia, IFK Gothenburg emerged as an alternative when Allsvenskan is one of the few leagues with an open transfer window.

Published: March 7, 2021 at 11:01 p.m.

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