Bologna sells the two Karlssons

Bologna, 4 January 2025 – We loved each other so much, but for a short time in reality, right after that illusory peak in the capital on a sunny autumn afternoon, illuminated even more by the 3-2 against Roma, the first and only “victim” of his adventure in red and blue.

That could have been the day of the turning point Jesper karlsson in Bologna: goal for the temporary 3-1 against the Giallorossi, before being forcefully lifted up by his fans crowded into the cheering away section of the Olimpico.

“Here he is, finally,” in chorus, after his goal, all those who have the rossoblù in their hearts. And instead, that will remain the last snapshot of a marriage that ends after a year and a half, with Bologna that today has his loan transfer to Lecce has been made official until the end of the season, then we'll see.

Arrived in the summer of 2023 from the Dutch team AZ Alkmaar for a fee of around 11 million, with notable numbers behind him (46 goals and 33 assists between Europe and the Eredivisie in three seasons), Karlsson has never convinced, nor satisfied, neither Motta before nor Italiano today.

Little, very little space with Thiago, Just 7 tokens in a championship whole (almost all at the beginning) plus one in the Italian Cup, so much so that almost a year ago at this time the fans tried to invoke him in some way: 'Karlsson!' was read on a banner displayed in Bulgarelli during the match against Sassuolo. But the Portuguese didn't change his choices one iota, granting him just two snippets with Verona (at the end of February) and Genoa, on the last day, with the Champions League already won.

More space and more confidence under the guidance of Italiano, but the opportunities, Jesper, he was unable to make them his own, except that afternoon in Rome, followed by a half-match at the Olimpico against Lazio a couple of weeks later and a good hour of lacklustre against Venice at Dall'Ara, before giving way to Orsolini, who needed only 5 minutes to score and to make others score ndoye, and perhaps also to put an end to his 14 months under the Twin Towers.

Fifteen games and one goal, this is how Karlsson says goodbye to the city and the fans, with these who have never failed to be close and supportive, even and especially in the darkest moments. In June he will return to base, and who knows if there will be a way to meet again.

But Jesper was not the only “of” Karlsson to take leave of Bologna in the last hours: also the young Kazper, Swedish midfielder born in 2005 who arrived less than a year ago to strengthen the Spring, is got back at home at AIK outright.