Malmö and Bosnia international defender Anel Ahmedhodzic confirms there have been ‘meetings’ with Napoli and Atalanta. ‘I am ready for the next step.’
The 22-year-old was named Best Defender in the Swedish league in 2020 and won the league title with Malmö.
His agent said a few days ago that he’d been in discussions with Atalanta and Napoli, among other Serie A clubs.
“I did hear about interest from Italy and meetings between some clubs and my agent,” Ahmedhodzic told Tuttomercatoweb.
“It is pleasing to know clubs from one of the biggest leagues in the world are interested in me. That confirms how well I’ve done so far.
“Having said that, I am now ready for the next step. I am at the biggest Swedish club, which everyone expects to win, so I became accustomed to pressure and I like it.
“It does look as if Italy will be my next destination, but nothing has been signed yet, so it’s all still to be seen. I do love Italian football, both Serie A and the Azzurri, who went all the way to win the European Championship.”
It was watching Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci that particularly inspired Ahmedhodzic.
“As far as I am concerned, defending is an art form in Italy and it’s the best place to learn. Their centre-backs are tactically evolved, energetic, but at the same time keep cool heads when reading situation.
“I was so thrilled when I saw at the Euros that Italian players celebrated a great defensive move. That’s what I love to see, calm and passion combined.”
He has six senior caps under his belt for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a slender 1-0 defeat to France in March.
A product of the Malmö youth academy, Ahmedhodzic also played for Nottingham Forest and Hobro IK.