Vllaznia Shkodër have gone to Pogradeci with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Sa'ad Tijjani was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Rustem Kaloshi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Daniel Pérez signs something — a contract at Vllaznia Shkodër or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Sa'ad Tijjani trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Supporters who sing when it goes badly are supporters. Supporters who gather afterwards are a problem, and everybody inside the building knows which of the two this now is.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Vllaznia Shkodër, and it is not being withdrawn.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Vllaznia Shkodër they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Rijad Kobiljar was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Rustem Kaloshi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Daniel Pérez trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Vllaznia Shkodër, and it is not being withdrawn.
Everything agreed with Dinamo City, everything agreed with the player; a doctor is the only person left to persuade. The photograph is a day or two away.
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Rijad Kobiljar was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Vllaznia Shkodër asked and Dinamo City said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Mamadou Tounkara has his answer from Vllaznia Shkodër; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
A loan enquiry to Iliria Fushë-Krujë: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Rijad Kobiljar is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Vllaznia Shkodër this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Sa'ad Tijjani is on it.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Sa'ad Tijjani trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Vllaznia Shkodër can pretend not to have heard.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Sa'ad Tijjani was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Herald Marku signs something — a contract at Vllaznia Shkodër or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and Vllaznia Shkodër will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Eris Kurtulaj trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
4 months left, and both sides know what that means: every week without a signature, the fee Vllaznia Shkodër could ask drops and the wages Aris Ara can ask rise.
Supporters who sing when it goes badly are supporters. Supporters who gather afterwards are a problem, and everybody inside the building knows which of the two this now is.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Herald Marku and Vllaznia Shkodër agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad6 Mar 2028
Sa'ad Tijjani falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Rustem Kaloshi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Rijad Kobiljar is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Vllaznia Shkodër this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Vllaznia Shkodër this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Daniel Pérez. 2‑0 against Dinamo City, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Player ratings20 Sep 2027
Gledjan Pusi was on a different afternoon to everybody else
8.04. There are performances a supporter describes to somebody who was not there and cannot quite convey; this was one, and the number does not help either.
“We earned that. I asked them for a reaction and I got one, and now I want the same again on Saturday.” Albi Qirko on a 2‑0 afternoon that pleased him more than he was prepared to show.
15 times he got in the way of something. Centre-halves get written about when they make mistakes and ignored when they do not, so an afternoon like this needs saying out loud: he is the reason the scoreline reads as it does.
Squad20 Sep 2027
Sa'ad Tijjani falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
It is not much of a headline and it is the reason players believe the next promise. Vllaznia Shkodër told Mamadou Tounkara something would happen and then it happened, which in this industry passes for remarkable.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Vllaznia Shkodër, and it is not being withdrawn.
Transfer targets6 Sep 2027
$98.0K settles it between the clubs for Aldo Teqja
Dinamo City have accepted the money. What Vllaznia Shkodër do not yet have is the man, and between here and the photograph is a conversation about wages that both sides are dreading.
Fee agreed, terms agreed, and a scan that said otherwise. He goes back to Egnatia Rrogozhinë; Vllaznia Shkodër go back to the market; and both will insist there is no story here.
Boardroom6 Sep 2027
Deadline passes with 2 signed and 5 gone
That is the business done at Vllaznia Shkodër until the window opens again. Whether it was enough will be answered on Saturdays rather than in a column, and the first Saturday is close.
“Some mornings you wake up and you are still a long way from everything you know.” It is not the football and it never was; Vllaznia Shkodër are dealing with a man who wants a different country.
Herald Marku and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Rijad Kobiljar is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The demotion a club never announces and a dressing room always notices. Erdenis Gurishta is further from the side than he was, and the reason will not be given until he asks.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Vllaznia Shkodër can pretend not to have heard.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Shkëlzen Ruçi and Vllaznia Shkodër agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Shkëlzen Ruçi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad9 Aug 2027
Sa'ad Tijjani falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
A loan enquiry to Egnatia Rrogozhinë: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Vllaznia Shkodër has been clear about where Nilsen Gjinaj stands, which is more than many ever get.
In brief
The dugoutThe manager makes an example of Aron Jukaj
The words a physio says slowly. 38 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Vllaznia Shkodër this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Sa'ad Tijjani was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Position 8 and 19 points, and the table gets read bottom-up in this part of town. The calendar has stopped being a schedule and started being a countdown.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Vllaznia Shkodër, and it is not being withdrawn.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Rijad Kobiljar is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“I watch every Vllaznia Shkodër game from here. That says everything about where my head is.” The loan at Vora runs its course, but his heart never made the trip.
Rustem Kaloshi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
4 goals in 9 games at Liepaja — numbers that travel home faster than he does. Somebody at Vllaznia Shkodër updates a spreadsheet every Monday, and it makes better reading each week.
3 goals in 22 games at Pogradeci — numbers that travel home faster than he does. Somebody at Vllaznia Shkodër updates a spreadsheet every Monday, and it makes better reading each week.
“Judge me on him.” Managers do not say that kind of thing by accident — it moves the pressure from Lirim Kastrati’s shoulders onto his own, and both of them know it.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Sa'ad Tijjani is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Edon Murataj signs something — a contract at Vllaznia Shkodër or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Sa'ad Tijjani is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Rustem Kaloshi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Vllaznia Shkodër know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Rijad Kobiljar was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Vllaznia Shkodër, and 7 appearances in 29 say he has earned the hearing.
Rustem Kaloshi was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Vllaznia Shkodër know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Rijad Kobiljar was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
He trains hard, says the right things and goes home to an empty flat. Nobody at Vllaznia Shkodër has done anything wrong, which is exactly what makes it so difficult to fix.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Vllaznia Shkodër, and it is not being withdrawn.
Boardroom1 Feb 2027
Vllaznia Shkodër close the window on a squad of their own making
0 in and 1 out, and no more changes for months. The manager has what he has, the supporters have their opinion of it, and the table will have the last word.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“I did not go to Korabi Peshkopi to sit and watch. I want to come back to Vllaznia Shkodër and fight for my place.” 4 appearances in 25 matches say the rest.
Vllaznia Shkodër have made the call to Flamurtari. No fee, a share of the wages, and a spare shirt in the position where the squad has been thinnest all season.
Rustem Kaloshi and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
A year in and the language has not come, the city has not opened up, and he eats alone more often than anybody at Vllaznia Shkodër would like to admit. It is showing on Saturdays.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
At 35 he is supposed to be managing his minutes. Instead he was marked 7.86 and looked, for ninety minutes, exactly like the player everybody remembers.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Vllaznia Shkodër this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“It is not the end of the world and it is not good enough. Both of those are true.” The manager, after a 1‑1 draw, said the honest thing and then went to say it again inside.
The team at the top of the table next, and the honest measure of where this side actually is. Anybody can beat the club below them; the question is what happens against Tirana.
There were 88 minutes on the clock and AF Elbasani had all but banked the point. Football rarely reads the room, and Vllaznia Shkodër did not stop to explain themselves.
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.40 at 35, and nobody on the pitch was better.
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad14 Dec 2026
Sa'ad Tijjani falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“The players deserve the credit. My job was easy today.” It was not, and everybody in the room knew it; after 2‑1, Albi Qirko could afford to be generous.