The Norwegian center forward who replaced Haaland and scored the splendid goal for the Azzurri to make it 4-1, was in the Rossoneri Primavera team in 2017-18 who dropped him. In the summer Wolverhampton refused 30 million for him
First premise: in hindsight, we know, everyone is good. Second premise: these sliding doors they materialize constantly, more or less every year and more or less in all teams, and to be able to overcome them favorable circumstances are needed. Having made these necessary premises, however, the regret in having seen Strand Larsen at work on the San Siro lawn against Italy – a goal and many other clear ideas when replacing the alien Haaland – is decidedly great because the Norwegian striker joined the Rossoneri Primavera eight years ago. And not necessarily just in transit: loan from Sarpsborg with (small) right of redemption. In short, a season with the baby Rossoneri to see how the situation could have developed. With Meazza as the final goal.
from the province to the metropolis
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“A great opportunity for Jorgen – the sporting director of the Norwegian club said at the time -. Training in totally professional conditions in a big club like Milan is fantastic”. For him it really seemed like the beginning of a beautiful fairy tale: from the 60 thousand inhabitants of Sarpsborg to Milan, or rather, to the Milan Primavera coached first by Gattuso and then by Lupi. Together with his U19 teammates, in August 2017 he also walked the catwalk at San Siro before Milan-Cagliari in front of 50 thousand spectators. Some of those teammates are now, like him, well-known faces in pro football: Gabbia, Pobega, Bellanova, Brescianini. That Milan had finished the season in seventh place in the league and with the disappointment of the Italian Cup final lost against Torino. How did Jorgen go? So so. The numbers say 5 goals spread over 1,260 minutes, with 20 appearances in the championship, 7 in the Italian Cup and 3 at the Viareggio tournament. Not a sparkling goal average but, as often happens at that age, it was obviously a prospect on which – possibly – to insist and invest.
spotlight
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The Norwegian had struggled to shine especially with Lupi, with whom the spark had not struck. However, the basic intention was to redeem him, also because the right was only 200 thousand euros and the boy had integrated well: an educated and professional profile, the Italian language learned immediately. Then, however, with the change in corporate management, the club’s attention was turned elsewhere and Jorgen returned to base. “My first year of football in Italy is over. I came to a good team and a group with good guys. One thing I’ve learned is to never give up! I’m still very grateful for a good experience”, was his greeting on social media to the Rossoneri world. From then on, it was pure news: the return to Sarpsborg, then the spotlight that shone on him first at Groningen, then at Celta Vigo, where his consecration arrived. Goals, several goals at stake. 2024 was that of the leap into the Eden of the Premier League, on the Wolverhampton side, for around 30 million. And last summer the Wolves repelled an assault from Newcastle with 50. The other evening at San Siro Strand Larsen exhibited his qualities and it is difficult, in the Rossoneri world, not to define him as a regret in a team that has desperately been looking for years for a center forward around which to build the attack.
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