Granit Xhaka has returned home to his family after 6 weeks of being away due to his international engagements with his national team, Switzerland.
After the 2020-2021 season ended in which he helped Arsenal to finish 8th on the Premier League table, the 28-year-old defensive midfielder flew to Switzerland ahead of Euro 2020.
Granit Xhaka who is one of the most respected players in the Swiss team played a prominent role in ensuring that the team made a mark in the European Championship which started on June 11 and is expected to end on July 11.
With the help of the Arsenal midfielder, Switzerland stunned France out of the European Championship in the round of 16 stage of the tournament via penalty shootouts.
The Swiss team was so “amazing” that they were able to come from 3-1 to draw 3-3 with a French side that was rated favorite of the tournament. Though Granit Xhaka did not play the penalty shootouts, he was solid for his team for over 120 minutes.
After the unprecedented victory over France, the defensive midfielder said: “Sorry to say this word, but it’s f*cking amazing, man. We can make score the 2-0 and finish the game but the penalty we missed breaks us a little bit.
“After 3-1, to come back like this against France, to show big character, this team is f*cking amazing, man.”
On July 2, 2021, Switzerland met with Spain in the quarter-finals round of the tournament and the Swiss team gave a very good account of themselves in the absence of Xhaka who missed the game because he recorded two yellow cards in the previous Euro 2020 games.
Though his absence was heavily felt, the Swiss team was able to drag Spain into penalty shootouts with just 10-men. However, Spain knocked them out after a disastrous round of penalties.
After the game, Granit Xhaka who played four matches for Switzerland in Euro 2020, flew back to London to reunite with his family. His daughter, Ayana was the first to welcome him home.
Xhaka’s wife, Leonita Lekaj posted a clip showing when the one year and 9 months old girl ran to the football star and gave him a warm welcome. In the caption, Xhaka’s wife wrote: “Reunited after 6 weeks”.
Granit Xhaka and Leonita Lekaj have been married since July 2017. The lovers gave birth to Ayana on 7 October 2019.
Granit Xhaka and his transfer issues
Granit Xhaka used to be the captain of Arsenal but most fans of the club grew impatient with him and lost the captaincy to the club’s talisman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The arrival of coach Mikel Arteta to the club in the summer of 2019 helped the football star to rediscover himself. His rediscovery became more obvious in the just concluded 2020-2021 season in which he played 45 times and scored a goal.
Despite his rediscovery, Arsenal are willing to sell him this summer. To make that happen as fast as possible, the club is willing to sell him as low as £17.5 million.
So far, Roma seem to be the next destination for Granit Xhaka. The Italian side which will be coached by Jose Mourinho are closing in on a permanent deal for the 28-year-old Swiss defensive midfielder.
From all indications, the fact that he still has two seasons left on his contract with Arsenal might not stop him from leaving the London club this summer where he currently earns £100,000-per-week.
