Club legend languishes on the bench: Why FCB is in the Xhaka dilemma

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Fabian Frei (35) is the undisputed record player in the history of FC Basel with his 525 appearances. But the captain doesn’t want to be called a ‘legend’. When using this term, Frei always refers to a teammate: Taulant Xhaka (32). Since his youth, red-blue blood has flowed through his veins. The Basel resident has been the FCB identification figure par excellence for years.

But it is precisely this fact that makes things quite complicated. After 385 games, six championship titles and four cup victories, Xhaka’s career is at a crossroads. Under coach Fabio Celestini (48), young players such as Leon Avdullahu (20), Renato Veiga (20) and winter newcomer Dion Kacuri (20) are at the forefront of central midfield. It seems as if FCB wants to appeal to the young people. Routine? Less in demand. Michael Lang often sits on the bench next to Xhaka.

Problems on Instagram

This development apparently made Xhaka feel like he was being pushed out of the club by FCB officials. At least that is how his message published on Instagram on Monday can be interpreted. «I’ll say it again: contract until 2027 and it will remain that way until the end! So you too, person “Taulant Xhaka is Basel and will remain Basel.”

He leaves it open for whom his words are intended. But it is an open secret that Xhaka and FCB boss David Degen (41) have not been on the same stage since the fuss surrounding his contract extension.

FCB gets more points without Xhaka

Xhaka’s contract was actually due to expire next summer. But in February 2023, after much back and forth, the player and club agreed to an extension until 2027. The background: Xhaka wants to be able to decide for himself when he stops. In return, FCB saves money as Xhaka accepted financial losses due to the contract restructuring.

But now FCB is in the Xhaka trap. Neither Basel executives nor Xhaka himself expected the midfielder to play such a small role this season. The facts: Xhaka was in Basel’s starting eleven only twice this year. Both matches against GC and Lausanne-Sport were lost 1:2. That may be a coincidence, but there are certainly figures that speak against the vice-captain. With Xhaka, FCB scores 1.06 points per game in the league. Without him it’s 1.3.

Fiorentina move rejected

But the veteran made it clear once again this week that, despite being a reservist, he absolutely wants to continue until 2027. Behind his declaration of war lies his great desire to play for his FCB again together with his brother Granit (30). Another club was never an option for “Tauli”. With the exception of the 2012/13 season, in which he was loaned out rather involuntarily, he spent his entire career in Basel.

There would have been the opportunity for a foreign adventure. When the then FCB coach Paulo Sousa (53) moved from Basel to Fiorentina in the summer of 2015, the Portuguese wanted to take his former player to Italy. But for Xhaka a transfer is no problem.

The Xhaka monument is in danger of being torn apart

“Of course the competition would have appealed to me on a sporting level, but I feel comfortable here in Basel, the fans respect me, my family and friends are here. What more could I want?”

Such identification with a club is rare in today’s football. There are clubs that want to erect a statue of a player like Xhaka in front of the stadium. If things ever get to that point in Basel, everyone involved must find a solution as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the Xhaka Monument is threatened with the first cracks before it is even built.

Source : Blick