Former Brighton striker Andi Zeqiri has blamed Brighton for not being called up to the World Cup.
The Swiss international recently left the Seagulls after three years earlier this month to join Belgian side Genk, and said that Brighton loaning him out to various clubs was the reason why he wasn’t called up to the Switzerland squad for the World Cup in Qatar last year.
Zeqiri had spent the last two seasons on loan at Basel in his homeland and Augsburg in the German Bundesliga.
“Of course, it was a disappointment not to be there in Qatar. On the other hand, I also know why I dropped out,” Zeqiri told Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg.
“I played at four different clubs in recent years. Via Lausanne I ended up at Brighton, who loaned me to Augsburg and Basel. I need stability, that’s why I’m happy I could make a permanent transfer to Genk. This is the ideal club for me to take the next big step in my career.”
Zeqiri has no hard feelings towards Brighton
Zeqiri went on to explain that he has no hard feelings towards Brighton despite his unsuccessful spell at the club.
“After my top season at Lausanne, where I scored 17 goals and provided 8 assists in the Swiss second division during the corona season at the age of 20, I had to choose the teams. Brighton had a clear plan, the Premier League also appealed to me.
“I still can’t say a bad word about the club. However, it was personally bad for me that they suddenly took enormous steps in terms of sports. That made the step I had to take even bigger.”