Legionnaires of Russian football clubs, who have at least some value abroad, have recently been leaving the RPL en masse. Moreover, FIFA’s permission allows them to do this without much difficulty – and they use their chance.

But there are exceptions to this rule. Some athletes prefer to play in Russia, although they have experience playing in Europe. Among them is Matthias Normann, who decided to return from the English Premier League to the Russian one. And even praised our championship before the move!

The Norwegians were shocked when they learned about the choice of the athlete.

“The best option”

Norwegian midfielder Matthias Normann went on loan from Rostov to English Norwich a year ago. In the Premier League, the player did not go well – he had to miss part of the season due to injury. However, in 23 matches, he nevertheless appeared on the field, scoring a goal and two assists.

The Canaries were relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, and the 26-year-old went in search of a new club. With all the options that should have been open to an athlete with experience in the Premier League, he preferred Russia. True, this is not about Rostov, but about Dynamo. According to the athlete himself, this is the best option for him.

– Everything is very simple. To date, Russia is the best sporting opportunity for me. Therefore, we settled on this choice. If I’ve learned anything in my career, it’s that you can’t mix politics and football. I go there to play and I’m very happy about it. Before, I didn’t want to go back to Russia, but now many factors come into play that I can’t control. There was interest from many teams, but this is the best option, – Norman is quoted by the Norwegian television channel TV2.

Matthias Normann / Photo: © REUTERS/Chris Radburn

“Controversial Choice”

Norman, who had declared a few months ago that he did not want to return to Russia, due to circumstances, learned a simple truth – sport should be out of politics. Unfortunately, not everyone in Norway has yet discovered this truth for themselves.

“Of course, I would like him to choose something else, it would be easier for everyone, but let’s see what Matthias himself will say,” TV2 quotes Norwegian head coach Stole Solbakken as saying.

Stole Solbakken / Photo: © NurPhoto / Contributor / NurPhoto / Gettyimages.ru

The Norwegian coach said that he would consult with the head of the national federation, Lisa Claveness, on the issue of calling Mathias to the national team. On his own initiative, Solbakken does not want to make such a decision, but he does not exclude the possibility of it – he simply, apparently, is waiting for the sanction of his superiors.

Claveness, for the time being, also does not scatter loud phrases, limiting himself to streamlined formulations.

– This is a very controversial choice. Everyone is united in putting pressure on Russia. The restrictions we have adopted are not aimed at the players, but in fact it was difficult for him to make this decision. He must defend it on his own, – quotes Claveness VG.

“Disrespect for Ukrainian colleagues”

The head of the Norwegian Football Association nevertheless expressed a potentially unpleasant thing for Norman. Urging to wait for the official signing of the player’s contract with the Russian club, Claveness hinted that they would return to the issue of removing the midfielder from the national team.

Norwegian sportscaster Jan Peter Saltvedt takes the liberty of saying things that officials are not yet ready to say.

In a conversation with NRK, the expert bluntly stated that the path to the national team for a player in the event of a return to the RPL would be closed. And he explained his opinion:

– This is disrespect to Ukrainian football colleagues and to everyone else. You can’t pretend that politics and sports can’t be mixed when you go to Russia, NRK quotes the commentator.

Norman, in turn, declares that he is afraid of a possible excommunication from the national team, but still does not want to give up his plan. In the end, Norway is not going to Qatar, and a possible miss of a couple of matches of the League of Nations will not be a terrible punishment for Matthias.