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Albian Ajeti has been playing for Celtic Glasgow since August. Cedric Itten signed with city rivals Glasgow Rangers nine days before him. image: imago images
Albian Ajeti and Cedric Itten found their happiness in Glasgow
Albian Ajeti and Cedric Itten, the two Basel Nati forwards, have been playing for rivals Celtic Glasgow and Glasgow Rangers since August. A suitable match. Because friends have always had a special story in common.
The line is broken, but Albian Ajeti’s laughter cannot be heard. “It is really special, we live more together here than in Basel our whole lives.”
Us, that’s Albian Ajeti and Cedric Itten. Two footballers, now 23, trained at FC Basel. One grew up in Allschwil, the other in Kleinbasel, until the family moved to Muttenz. Itten is almost exactly two months older than Ajeti today. One was born in December, the other in February. Their paths have intertwined since they were ten years old. They were always separated, but also always reunited. Whether in their decisions, in their clubs, in the national team.
The constellation has never been as special as it is now. Itten describes it as crazy. Incredibly special. Neither he nor Ajeti can say more. Because the two Swiss national forwards are united in one city, but separated in their colors. Or much more, and in Glasgow in particular: Separated in religion.
Ajeti and Itten now play for Celtic Glasgow and the Glasgow Rangers. They signed their contracts in just nine days. First Itten with the Protestants of the Rangers, then Ajeti with the Catholics of Celtic.
Two antagonists who are the same
The fact that the two ended up in the same city in the same transfer window fits with their relationship, their careers. Sometimes you had the feeling that they were copying things. Much more, however, the two, who are said to have very different characteristics, often think similarly.
Ajeti and Itten are actually antagonists in the public eye. Here Ajeti, the proud player, who has never lost a saying and who says of himself: «I have never lacked confidence in myself. As a footballer, but also as a guy. “Da Itten, the cautious person who prefers to say less than call out the slogans. Perhaps it is also their forms in the offspring that have shaped both of them in these types. Although it was almost linear for Ajeti at a young age, he made his professional debut at 17, it was a bit more difficult for Itten. He struggled with streaks of growth and didn’t make his debut at the highest level until he was 19. Also, “because I made a detour through the U17 ”, he says when we contacted him last week.
He just got home from training, it’s already 4pm in Scotland. An afternoon for footballers. “But everything here is bigger and more professional than we know in Switzerland.” After team training ends, all players complete additional units. “In the first two weeks I had muscle aches all the time,” says Itten and laughs.
Ajeti scores for Celtic against Hibernian. Video: transmittable
The small muscle problems that followed shortly after his move were almost to be expected. After all, he didn’t have a break, just one day after the Super League final he moved from St. Gallen to Glasgow, where the championship was already being contested. “In three days I looked at everything, signed it, moved in and was allowed to celebrate my debut.” A tough program, “but in the end I wanted to make friends with the team as soon as possible.” Muscle problems have also affected Ajeti since he arrived in Glasgow. But not for the same reasons as Itten, but for completely the opposite reasons.
As good as never before, as dark as never before
Because, meanwhile, Itten barely got out of the game in St. Gallen, celebrated the best season of his career and scored 19 goals, Ajeti lived through the darkest phase of his career. After moving to West Ham United in the summer of 2019, Ajeti learned how difficult professional football can be in the big leagues. “Even if it costs 10, 15 million, it’s not a big shot here.” In his time in London, he only adds 12 missions and 400 minutes. “It definitely didn’t work out the way I wanted.”
Ajeti was no longer loved in West Ham, he now plays an important role in Celtic. Image: imago images / PA Images
Brought to the capital of England by Manuel Pellegrini, Ajeti’s status fell from the moment Pellegrini had to leave. So: just a few months after your arrival. He had no chance with David Moye’s successor. «He explained to me that he likes great forwards. Those that measure two meters. But he couldn’t just grow up fast, fast. “He had to accept it and he did. Anyone who knows him knows: it wasn’t easy.
Suddenly not used after you really wanted it, a situation that Cedric Itten knows about. The irony of the story: it was then Ajeti who suddenly Itten stood in front of the sun. Not in the offspring, at that moment the two friends broke into a double storm together, with a certain Breel Embolo about a tenth behind them. It was the moment of a golden generation on the FCB campus.
No, the big competition between Ajeti and Itten, continues years later, in autumn 2017. After Ricky van Wolfswinkel, the then king transferred from then FCB sporting director Marco Streller, breaks his foot, Basel brings Itten to loan to Lucerne. At Manchester Airport, Streller explains that you need Itten’s physique, his nose for the goal, his presence. Deep down there is still a desire to bring Ajeti back as well.
St. Gallen as the site of the two ripening processes
Ajeti is something like the son who was lost a year and a half earlier. While Itten was making his professional debut with Urs Fischer at the time, Ajeti saw no opportunities and fled to Augsburg in January 2016. Too soon, as it will turn out later, Ajeti hardly ever comes to work. After half a year he moves to where he will become an experienced striker: FC St. Gallen. In just under a year and a half, Ajeti matures in eastern Switzerland and also returns home a few days after Itten’s return to FCB in autumn 2017. They are suddenly reunited.
For Itten, however, Ajeti’s move is the end of all hopes. The stakes are rare despite the hefty quotas, in winter you can borrow from, elsewhere, St. Gallen. And there he does what Ajeti did before him: mature into a declared forward. For someone who has surpassed the Swiss league, he becomes a national player in fall 2019, scores on debut, and has finally made it to the top. And above all: Ajeti has advanced. Perhaps for the first time since the two crossed paths. Itten is the new star on the Swiss football scene, Ajeti is hardly noticeable in public anymore.
Until this August. Until they both move to Glasgow. Of all things. “People who know the Glasgow Rangers understand why I moved here,” says Itten. “It is an absolutely traditional club with a great history and 54 championship titles. Also, how football is lived here, that we play at the front and at the European level. This change was the perfect decision for me. ”
Itten still has less time with the Rangers, but has already scored. Image: imago images / Pro Sports Images
One that was also shaped by the man on the sidelines: Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend is Itten’s new manager. “When the Rangers’ interest was known, I had a video call with him. So I was very nervous. “After all, everyone knows him, they saw him on TV and they watched him.” I could barely realize that I was suddenly allowed to talk to him. “But the fact that he promised her the same confidence that St. Gallen coach Peter Zeidler two and a half years ago made a quick decision in favor of the Rangers.
Trust. Ajeti also felt it on the part of those responsible for Celtic. After a year of setbacks, “in which I did not win much in sports, but I was able to take a very big step forward mentally”. And after a year off from regular football. “The fact that they still wanted to sign me despite this fact showed me that it is a smarter step than a year ago.” At that point he settled on West Ham, although Celtic wanted him there too.
Perhaps it had to be that only now was he drawn to northern Britain. The farewell to London was hard, he felt immensely at ease. Alone: the match training was missing, “and I didn’t want to waste more time and regret having waited more.” The change was not easy for Itten either, St. Gallen has become a place of well-being. But he felt “that he was ready for the next step.” They both made it to Glasgow. Itten and his girlfriend Nina have just moved into a house in private, and Ajeti has also found gold.
Ajeti impressed on the field with five goals in six league games. And that even though he’s not 100 percent fit yet. First imagine how good he is when he’s fully fit, ”says Matthew Lindsay of the Glasgow Herald. Itten also scored his first two goals a week ago, as a substitute in just 21 minutes. Feelings of happiness can be heard in the voices of Ajetis and Itten when they talk about their new clubs. You found happiness in Glasgow.
Eating together is impossible
They would be happy to talk about it personally, to exchange ideas. It still hasn’t worked. In the last national team he had to go through muscular problems, now Ajeti’s muscles are pinched. Eating together in the city is impossible. After all, it is “a matter of life and death” between Celtic and Rangers, as Ajeti puts it. “The decision in favor of the club is made by family origin,” says Itten. You are green or blue. Celtic or Rangers. Catholic or Protestant.
The rivalry of the very hostile clubs culminates in what is probably the biggest derby in the world: the Old Firm. The time has come on October 17. It is not clear if Ajeti will be fit by then, but it is realistic. Then they would face off. Albian Ajeti and Cedric Itten. At the prestigious Old Firm Derby. In front of millions and millions of viewers in front of the televisions of the world. It would be the next chapter in a very special bond between two friends from Basel.
