The bid from clubs in La Liga and the Premier League was 195 million Swedish kronor.
But AZ demanded just over SEK 200 million for their Swedish star, Jesper Karlsson, 24.
– I can understand that after the two seasons I did, the national team midfielder said about the price in an interview with Sportbladet.
When Jan Andersson presented his country’s squad for the Nations League final matches earlier this week, one of Sweden’s most important players was missing – Alkmaar Jesper Carlson.
The winger has not recovered from the injury he sustained at the end of May.
Tired of rehab
– It’s really sad. I have been on the national team teams for two years and was very excited to get this real opportunity. I started to see myself on that left wing. But I have something to look forward to and fight for.
– I’m tired of rehab, but I’m getting close to soccer training. I’m going to go a little heavier at the gym and we’ll see my reaction. I hope to be able to get back into play sometime in October, Jesper Karlsson tells Sportbladet.
Carlson was injured in the last game of last season, the Dutch qualifier for a conference league spot on May 29.
– Bicycleta tried against Vitesse at the end of the first half. One of my team jumped right into my leg so I stretched. It was a pure blast. I injured the tendon in the upper right thigh, toward the seat.
– I got hurt but I played with my front bone in the second half. I was flagged because the national team was waiting. I scored two goals and one assist in this injury.
It seems crazy.
– You can do a lot with your head…but maybe that wasn’t smart. I didn’t think it was that dangerous.
And then I went to the national team pool there in June?
– yes. The next day I felt it wasn’t good, but I thought it might be good if I survived the first match in the Nations League. But when we did the MRI and the doctors and physiotherapists on the national team felt the injury – I was in so much pain – I knew it wouldn’t work. The normal recovery time for this type of injury is 3-4 months.
He knows what to avoid…
During his years at Elfsborg, football artist Jesper Karlsson was affected by a longer injury fracture. He missed 2.5 months at the start of 2019 with a ligament tear in his elbow after landing sideways – trying a bike in training.
Will you be cycling fewer kicks in the future…?
– Ha ha ha. It’s crazy that I got injured twice. I guess I will only do it when I am 100% sure of the registration. He says I must have had some material to think about, but soon realizes it’s him:
– I’ll probably start doing it when I get back if I feel fine…
In September 2020, Arizona paid just under 30 million to Elfsborg for Karlsson, who in two seasons of Allsvenskan at Borås scored 19 goals and 11 assists.
In Alkmaar, the winger continued to develop, who scored 26 goals and made 22 goals over two seasons in AirDevice.
During the summer transfer window, a move to Celta Vigo in La Liga or Bournemouth in the Premier League was not far away.
According to Dutch media, the bids ranged between 170 and 175 million Swedish kronor.
It was higher, but the A to Z decides, says Carlson.
According to Sportbladet information, the final concrete offer made by AZ was 195 million crowns. The Dutch club is said to have asked for more than 200 million crowns to sell Jesper Karlsson.
I felt ready for the next step. I love new challenges and am interested in reaching the highest level in the different leagues. I had two good seasons here in the Netherlands. But I was aware that might not be the case because I knew what AZ was asking of me.
What do you think about the price they put on you, which is more than 200 million Swedish kronor?
– I can understand that after the two seasons I’ve done, but it’s really something AZ has to answer for.
Compared to Anthony
In the wake of the failed giant deals, the Swede has been compared to another giant transfer deal: Manchester United paid nearly a billion kroner (!) for the winger, who is under 1.5 years old, and copper Anthony, 22, who over the past two seasons in the Eredivisie has scored 17 goals And 12 assists, 29 points less than Carlson. But Anthony also scored three goals and four assists in the Champions League.
– It’s hard to compare players and amounts. There are a lot of things that play a role, says Jesper Carlson, which club you come from and what games you play in.
Do you in any way regret extending your contract with AZ last winter?
– It’s not something I want to comment on.
I am very happy that I am starting to come back after this injury. I missed it. I know I’m very good when I’m happy and free of injuries. This is my focus now.
In the Scandinavian-style AZ, which started the league and European matches strong, he was joined in Sweden by former Hammarby player Michael Lado.
– It is a nice. He is a good player. Explosive, strength. I Like Him.
How long do you follow Allsvenskan?
I watch as many matches as possible. Of course, I follow Elfsborg quite a bit. It was an important victory against Malmö. It looked like a shift.
Is it true that Jimmy Thielen is allowed to continue as a coach at Elfsburg?
– It’s 100 percent true. It is a nice. Jimmy is an incredibly good coach and person. I know how hard it can be for him to correct the details if things don’t go well. Now it looks better.
It’s fun that things are going in the right direction for Falkenberg too (third place in the first division). I also want to see them higher. They seem to be heading in the right direction, says Carlson, who broke out when he was 17 at Allsvenskan with the Falkenbergs FF in 2016.