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Myrto Uzuni confesses to the Spaniards: We walked for three days to go to Greece, we had no money...

2023-05-20 19:45:55Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Myrto Uzuni confesses to the Spaniards: We walked for three days to go to
Myrto Uzuni during the interview

By Jorge Azcoytia – Marca

No reasonable person would have bet on Myrto Uzun (Berat, 1995) at the start. The Albanian footballer was born into a modest family trying to get ahead, in a country plunged into chaos and, like many other stories, his could have been lost in the crowd. However, fate had reserved another path for him, paved with perseverance, sacrifice and unwavering faith: "My journey began with my father. From the beginning, he always wanted me to become a footballer, to learn English, because it would help me in life. He was my first coach and he supported me from the first day", - remembers the Albanian attacker of the red and white team.

When Uzuni, 27, was almost ten years old and faced with an unstable situation in the country, his family decided to pack all their belongings into several suitcases and leave their life behind in Berat to take a flight clandestinely towards a more hopeful future.

"Albania is not in the European Union and we had to walk for three days, we had no money, we had to pay 15 thousand euros to get out, which is a lot of money in that country that earns 300 or 400 per month. My uncle lent it to us. We went to Greece in search of a better life", - a great experience for Myrton.

"This is where my strength lies. This makes me appreciate where I am today, I don't want to go back to those times, my family had nothing, it was a difficult life".

Although the footballer continued to fulfill his dreams, reality, harsh and inescapable, kept him away from the ball, washing dishes to help his mother.

"Playing football was complicated, we had the opportunity to work just to keep the family alive, without a contract, because we didn't have papers. I worked in many jobs", remembers the striker of Granada.

Despite the marathon days of work, Uzuni continued to play tirelessly and football soon appeared as an escape route.

"I found strength in my family, we sacrificed a lot to stay together. I knew that the only solution to get out of this situation was football", says Uzuni. A persistence that actually paid off around 2010, when Olimpiacos took an interest in him. The goal seemed achievable, but the lack of a visa interrupted the operation and the dream, once again, evaporated like a mirage.

"One day I will be very big"

With few options on the table, Uzuni and his family returned to Albania, back to their beginnings.

"We had no house, no money, we had nothing, we lived in a difficult situation", but no obstacle would divert Uzun from his goal.

"One day I was running at six o'clock in the morning, it was very cold and my nose was red, I looked up and said to myself: One day I will be very big. I have always believed in myself."

At the age of 18 and with an unwavering determination, Uzun's time comes. He started to stand out in the branch of Tomori Berat, in the team of his hometown and after scoring 27 goals, he quickly made the jump to the first team, from where he signed for 2000 euros for FK Apolonia.

"Two thousand euros is nothing", he recalls with a smile. The center of attention would not leave him anymore and for 20 thousand euros he signed a new contract with FK Laçi, where he made history by reaching the Europa League qualifiers.

Lokomotiv Zagreb was the next club that knocked on his door, a new country, a new language, but no challenge, however difficult, scared Uzun anymore. "It was a springboard for young players. I trained hard, I was clear about what I wanted in life, nothing was going to get me off my path, I was always clear about what I wanted. I worked hard to become who I am today.”

Signing with Ferencvaros

With prominent figures in Croatia, Uzun's rise was unstoppable and Ferencvaros bet on him, opening the doors of the old continent, reaching the next level and enabling him to play in the Champions League, where he met Cristiano Ronaldo, his childhood idol. big.

"Ronaldo is an example for me. Everyone knows the sacrifice he has made to become who he is, the winning mentality is the most important thing."

In that match against Juventus, the Berat striker scored a goal for the Whites and celebrated by imitating the Portuguese star, in a gesture of admiration.

"I always watched him on TV, it was incredible for me to play against Ronaldo. I achieved my goal and it was a dream come true.”

The penalty he could not take and cost him a drop in the category

For all his overflowing confidence, Uzun's first few months in Spain were not easy, as he failed to put the ball in the net and it cost him, with the team relegated.

"In life things don't always go the way we want, but that's in the past, we're here to get back to the First Division," he says.

It was something that did not affect his faith.

"I was not afraid. Alfredo (García Amado, head coach) and Nico (Rodríguez, sporting director) called me and told me that I will be the leader of the team, as I always believe in myself. Years ago when I was waiting with my friends at the bus stop to play soccer, I told them I was going to score 25 goals that season, they all thought I was joking, I knew I was serious, that game I scored four goals and look where I am now".

A drop, that of Granada, which was consumed by a missed penalty by Jorge Molina, a penalty that could have had a different outcome with Uzun as the shooter.

"I wanted to take the penalties, but Milla and Luis Suarez were ahead. Without them on the field, I took the ball to execute the penalty, but from the bench they told me that it shouldn't be me, so I respected the decision."

Uzuni combines non-conformity and ambition, virtues that led him to follow his dream and play in LaLiga, in the same competition that had made Messi and Ronaldo, and now it was the new peak to climb for the Albanian. The opportunity, after his arrival in Mallorca was 'noisy', took a little longer than expected, but Granada appeared and did not hesitate.

"I felt very happy and proud, all the work I did, all these years of sacrifice, I finally got the reward and I was where I deserved it."

An opportunity from the red and white team that has allowed him to become an idol of Los Cármenes, where he hopes to be for many years.

"Granada opened the doors of La Liga for me, made my dream come true. Of course I appreciate the support and help, I never forget those who have helped me before.”

With four languages ​​in his memory and a backpack full of experiences, Uzuni quickly adapted to this new environment.

"To be honest, football does not need much adaptation, the language of the game is spoken. The most important thing is to feel at home with your teammates. Also, after learning four languages, Spanish was not difficult.”

This season Uzuni has exploded, leading Granada as the top goalscorer in the division, something the striker naturally copes with.

"There is no secret, it is to spend your time working hard, and I work hard. Everyone knows how much I love football. I live for football, it's no secret. In every team I go to, I make history, I make a difference, even here at Granada. Never when I am not satisfied, I always want more", says Uzuni.

The extraordinary appearance of Uzun has awakened the interest of another club, which has placed the Albanian on its radar.

"Today there are very few players capable of scoring, Osimhen, Haaland... maybe only ten and when someone scores a lot of goals, it arouses the interest of other teams. I know that if I keep scoring goals they will call Granada, but I only worry about the present, I focus 100% on the team and its objectives", says Uzuni, adding that football was the solution that could fix his life, there was nothing else.

"My dream was to become a footballer, to play for the Albanian national team and reach one of the most important leagues. The only thing I can say is that nothing is impossible, you have to believe in yourself and that's why I'm here. Football is my life, I live for football", an attitude that makes Uzun a greedy footballer who can bring Granada back to the top. Two steps left. Today the first in Miranda de Ebro.


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