Taulant Xhaka is convinced he can convince Granit Xhaka to leave Arsenal to return to FC Basel, the club the brothers both started their careers and where the Albanian international currently plays.
Speaking to Blick, the 31-cap defensive midfielder is confident that he can bring his younger brother back to Basel even if the Arsenal star was to sign a new contract with the club, where Xhaka is currently enjoying his best season yet with the north London side.
The elder Xhaka said when asked about trying to get his brother to leave Arsenal for a move back to Switzerland: “We often talk about it. He is tied to Arsenal until 2024, maybe he will extend for another year.
“But then it would be possible, but he would have to come in 2026 at the latest. He also wants to play for the Basel again, together with me. Even if it’s only for ten minutes: I’ll do everything for that.”
The brothers have faced off against each other for both club and country in recent years, yet with Xhaka junior very much at the peak of his career and enjoying his best football yet, the chances of the midfielder leaving Arsenal for a return to Basel seem slim.
Indeed, whilst it would be a fairytale story to see the brothers Xhaka play alongside each other for their hometown club, it might be some time before the youngest of the two makes a return to Basel, with the £35m midfielder this season one of the best players in the Premier League.
Xhaka should leave Arsenal for Basel when the time is right
Few Arsenal fans would have tipped Xhaka to have the season the midfielder is currently enjoying, yet the Swiss international has been nothing short of exceptional for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta, yet the 30-year-old should leave the north London side for Basel when the time is right.
Given how good Xhaka has been for the Gunners, this likely won’t happen for some time, yet given what the midfielder’s brother has said, a return to Basel feels like a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, and a move would be a fairytale ending to a great career.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
