Too often in transfers players have to be overly persuaded to join a club, especially when that club is in a relegation battle like Crystal Palace.
More and more money is thrown, agents are paid off, and a new signing can arrive feeling like he’s doing the club a favour.
Well that certainly doesn’t seem the case with Alexander Sorloth.
Completing his move from FC Midtjylland to Crystal Palace late last night, the striker has hardly slept in days according to reports coming from Denmark, the country he’s now left.
Over in Norway, the player’s father has been speaking to VG, and he’s said to be ‘ecstatic’ about the January move.
Goran Sorloth is quoted as saying: “It’s still a bit unreal, it’s gone so fast. I’ve seen a nice development for Alexander, from Groningen to FC Midtjylland, but it’s going to be so fast, it’s almost strange.
“I really hoped he would stay in Midtjylland until the end of the season because they are doing so well now. But the opportunity to take a step and develop in the world’s toughest league is fantastic for him.”
Asked by VG whether playing in England has always been a dream for his son, Sorloth senior explained: “Alexander had Chelsea as favourite team when he was smaller and always had an eye for English football. He probably had some thoughts in his head, but you should have. Now he has twelve national matches, he is moving limits all the time. But it has gone so fast it’s unreal.”
The proud father isn’t in England, he’s got things to do in Norway, and told VG: “Now I’m going to Lerkendal (Rosenborg’s stadium, the club where Sorloth came through). Then I’ll go and enjoy myself in Trondheim for four hours.”
Why Trondheim? That’s where the Crystal Palace player and his family are from, and there’s likely to be a party going on tonight.
The transfer is huge news in Scandinavia, with most of the media shocked at Crystal Palace paying such a high price, with various figures put on the deal.
Ekstra Bladet put it at £6.9m which can rise to £12.3m.
It’s all over the Scandinavia newspapers, and below there’s snippets from Ekstra Bladet, BT, Dagbladet and Aftonbladet.
