Last summer, Muamar Tanković was ready to go home at Tele2 and Hammarby.
But then, to his surprise, he got approval from Athletic Director Jesper Jansson.
– I was ready for more things to happen, says Tanković on the Tuttosvenskan podcast.
The 27-year-old Norrköpingssonen quickly became a favorite with the Bajen fans when he arrived at the club in 2017.
After 34 goals in 93 matches in the green and white jersey, his career continued in Greece and AEK Athens in the summer of 2020.
According to Tanković himself, a return to the Stockholm club was “very close” this summer.
– I was still ready to go back to my harem. I spoke to my agent and the agent spoke to the club. They said in an interview with Tuttosvenskan, they said the club would contact them and that I would have a conversation with Jansson and the boys.
I was surprised by the reception
Then Tanković also had a conversation with Hammarby sporting director Jesper Jansson. But the reception was not what he expected.
He said, “We want to win SM gold.” I said, “Of course, I also want to win SM gold.” I already said that when I came there in 2017, Hammarby was an average club. For me it was “well, what are we talking about?”. He said they wanted hungry players. At the time, my feeling was that they didn’t think I was hungry. I’ve been abroad for two years, so will I be full? Tankovic says I am very hungry.
– I was ready for more things to happen. It will “come” as it were. Then they never heard from each other again. Nobody called me, nothing. Then I thought “Okay. I’m not going to sit here and wait. I have a career and other clubs are calling me so I have to make a decision.”
Janson: “Not possible.”
But this photo was not shared by Jesper Jansson, who believes the deal was never in question.
– It wasn’t possible. They were expensive and not the kind of players Marty and I were looking for (Cifuentes, coach of Hammarby), Jansson tells Fotbollskanalen.
Instead, Tanković became the headliner of the new club Paphos in the Cypriot league, where the national team-qualified striker is currently enjoying himself very well.
But despite the disappointment of being cold at the hands of Bagen, he didn’t quite close the door to a future return to Allsvenskan.
– For now, if I get a call, I certainly won’t leave, but you never know what it will be like when summer comes.