Norwegian citizenship application underway for Bude-Glimt's Russian goalkeeper Heikin.
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Norway could be welcoming Russian goalkeeper Nikita Haykin to the fold. His representative, Emery Atta, spilled the beans that the citizenship application process is underway. Haykin's agent hinted that Norway's national team has expressed interest in the keeper. However, a decision between his Russian and Norwegian roots hasn't been made yet.
Atta shared with Sport24 that the Russians haven't reached out to them. But he mentioned if Haykin is extended an invitation to the national team, they'll consider their options.
Haykin, aged 29, has yet to suit up for the Russian senior national team, despite representing the junior and youth teams. In 2021, he was called up to the national team, but didn't see any game time. Since 2019, Haykin has been honing his skills in the Norwegian league and also holds Israeli citizenship.
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(Note: This analysis assumes a common trend in dual-nationality scenarios.)
Possible Reasons Russia Hasn't Reached Out:
- Eligibility Formalities: Haykin might still be firming up his Russian citizenship (paperwork delays, residency prerequisites) or waiting for FIFA's approval.
- Goalkeeper Market Saturation: The Russians might be content with their existing goalkeepers or prioritizing those with better form or experience over Haykin.
- Administrative Priorities: The focus of the RFU might be on upcoming UEFA Nations League/Euro qualifiers with the existing roster, with internal delays or evaluations causing communication delays.
- Strategic Planning: The RFU may be keeping tabs on Haykin for future tournaments while avoiding potential conflicts from his possession of a second citizenship.
- Secretive Discussions: The lack of contact could be due to the agent not proactively reaching out to the RFU, or conversations not being publicly addressed.
- If Haykin secures his Russian citizenship, he might become an attractive addition to the Russian national team, especially considering the potential for a future tournament.
- With the Premier League and other European leagues vying for talent, it's possible that the Russian Football Union is waiting to assess Haykin's performance in these competitions to make a decision.
- As Bodo/Glimt's performance in a European cup semifinal puts them in the spotlight, potential recruiters may feel it's the perfect time to evaluate Haykin's value and possible integration into their team.
- In the event that Nikita Haykin is offered Norwegian citizenship, he could face some challenging decisions – he may have to choose between representing his birth country or continuing to play for the Israeli national team, given his dual citizenship.
- As bookmakers look ahead to the future of European football leagues, they might be placing bets on Haykin's eventual choice of countries to play for, given the consideration he's receiving from various teams.
