Miralem Pjanić will no longer play for the Football National Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The 35-year-old football star, who built an enviable international sports career and wore the jerseys of some of the greatest clubs in football history, officially bid farewell to the A team yesterday in Zenica.
Behind Miralem are unforgettable performances for the national team, which will long hold memories of a player who, at the start of his international career, had the option to play either for Luxembourg – whose youth selections he represented – or for BiH – he chose BiH.
He debuted for the BiH national team in 2008 and by 2024 had collected 115 appearances and scored 18 goals, making him the second-most capped player for the national team. In May 2024, Pjanic announced his retirement from international football.
When it comes to the club level, by May of this year, Pjanic had played 665 matches and scored 78 goals.
During his career, he played in five different countries: France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Russia. However, his move to Barcelona was a media bombshell, as not every player gets the chance to wear the jersey of the Spanish champion and one of the biggest and most trophy-laden clubs in football history.
Pjanic transferred to Barcelona in June 2020, for a total of 60 million euros plus other bonuses. The financially lucrative contract suggested a great opportunity at the club and status, but things would not perhaps unfold as the BiH footballer had expected. Miralem struggled to find form and was eventually loaned to the Turkish team Besiktas under Ronald Koeman’s leadership.
FC Barcelona published an official farewell to the BiH football star on its website, thanking him for his professionalism, dedication, and engagement, and for always adapting his contract to the situations and needs of the club.
FC Barcelona and Miralem Pjanic reached an agreement on the termination of the contract that tied the player to the club until the end of the 2023/24 season.
To recall, he arrived in Barcelona from Juventus. In his first season, he played 30 matches in all competitions, including the Copa del Rey, which the team later won.
Transfermarkt summarizes Miralem’s transfer history, which provides an interesting insight into his career.
Early beginnings
2006-2007 – Moves from Metz’s youth academy to their second team (Metz B), and already a year later, in 2007, joins the first team of FC Metz.
Rise through Ligue 1
2008-2009 – He was only 18 years old when the transfer from FC Metz to Olympique Lyonnais took place for what was then a hefty 7.5 million euros. This was a significant step, as Lyon was then the French champion.
Italian phase
2011-2012 – Leaves Lyon for AS Roma for 11 million euros. He spent five seasons in Rome and gained a reputation as one of the best playmakers in Serie A.
2016-2017 – Transfer from AS Roma to Juventus for 32 million euros, even though his market value at the time was 35 million euros.
Spanish episode
2020-2021 – Transfer to FC Barcelona from Juventus. The transfer was part of a swap deal with Arthur Melo, and the nominal transfer value was 60 million euros, while his market value was 45 million euros.
2021-2022 – Goes on loan to Besiktas, which was an opportunity for more minutes after a weaker season at Barcelona.
2022-2023 – After returning to Barcelona from the loan, leaves the club as a free agent and joins Sharjah FC (UAE) without a transfer fee, although his market value at the time was 9.5 million euros.
Career twilight
In July of last year, he leaves Sharjah FC and becomes a free agent, only to sign for CSKA Moscow in September without a transfer fee, with a market value of 3 million euros.
Total Career Transfer Value: 110.5 million euros, of which the most expensive transfer was Barcelona-Juventus (60 million euros), Forbes writes.
