Arsenal midfielder Xhaka: Switzerland my home but I have Albanian blood!

Published on: 23 March 2017

Granit Xhaka says he is extremely proud of his heritage.

The 24-year-old Arsenal midfielder was born in Basel to Kosovo-Albanian parents and while his brother Taulant plays for Albania, Granit represents Switzerland at international level.

Xhaka, who is away with the Swiss team for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Latvia, have some insight to Arsenal Player about which nationality he considers himself to be.

"I'm really proud," he said.

"What's important is that we all get on, that we all respect each other.

"In the Swiss national team we have players with links to many different countries, maybe people who don't just have Swiss roots. That's why it's very important that we respect each other, and that really works well in our team.

"Switzerland is my home, it's where I was born and grew up, but I will never forget my parents' roots. My blood is Albanian and nobody can take that away from me. My heart is 50:50 - I can't say I'm more of one than the other. I have two homes, Switzerland and Kosovo, and that's how it will always stay.

"I'm grateful for what Switzerland has done for my parents, for us. You can't forget that. As I said, I was born and grew up there. I went to school there, I took my first steps there - both in football and in my private life.

"It will always be my home."

Source: tribalfootball.com

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