How could one of Europe’s most experienced midfielders, fresh from competing for silverware in Germany, trade the Champions League football for a potential relegation battle in England?
To find the answers, Flashscore spoke exclusively with Xhaka’s agent, Jose Noguera, who shed light on the motivations behind the move and the vision that convinced his client to take on one of the boldest challenges of his career.
What made Xhaka decide to leave Bayer Leverkusen after a successful period?
“After two years Xhaka needed a new challenge. That’s what his belief was.”
How did Sunderland convince him, what was their pitch?
“The first conversation was on the phone with the owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, who is also from Switzerland and very young as well. Xhaka connected very well with Louis-Dreyfus and loved the vision that was presented.”
At what point did Xhaka hear of Sunderland’s interest, and how quickly did things move after that?
“Kyril Louis-Dreyfus called Xhaka directly and asked him whether he would be interested in starting the Sunderland project with him. Xhaka then referred him to me, his agent, and then discussions started.”
Was there interest from Premier League or Champions League clubs for the signature of Xhaka?
“Xhaka had a lot of interest from Premier League and Champions League clubs and declined three big offers to join Sunderland this summer.”
How much did Sunderland’s project and future ambitions matter in his decision?
“Xhaka is usually at clubs where it’s about Champions League, league titles, cup finals, etc. However, he wanted to try something new because he wants to become a coach in future. So he sees this as a new experience to learn.”
What role did Xhaka’s family play in his decision to join Sunderland?
“Xhaka’s family played a very big role in him joining Sunderland. Once his wife and three kids were willing to make the move with him, he agreed because his family is very important to him.”
How does he see the Premier League compared to the Bundesliga?
“Football in England is played at a very high level. It is more about the physicality and maybe less about the technical aspect. Many big players come to England and they realise they need to improve their level and often require time to adapt.”
