Heggem signals January exit from Bologna over lack of playing time

What happened

Bologna defender Torbjorn Heggem has said he is prepared to leave the club in January if his situation does not change, speaking from Norway's national team camp in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen, as reported by Corriere dello Sport. The Norwegian centre-back described his position at Bologna as "not an ideal situation" and said he cannot spend the rest of the season on the bench.

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Heggem said it was strange to see a change of coach when he felt the team had started the season very well. He said he started the first six matches, but that the side unfortunately did not get the necessary results. Under the previous coach, Tedesco, he was always a starter; under Palladino he has begun only the first two games from the start before falling to the margins. Over the last five matchdays he has been on the bench four times, making a single appearance as a substitute for a brief spell against Milan. "I can't keep sitting on the bench for the rest of the season. I'm in the prime of my career and I want to play football," he said.

According to the report, his drop in the pecking order is tied to low performance in the rossoblu shirt. Already against Torino, in his first outing under Palladino, the centre-back showed some cracks, making errors that did not help his case for a starting place, including an intervention on Oristanio that risked compromising a match Bologna finished in a draw. After the away trip to Lecce the new coach made other choices. The report notes that the switch from a back four to a back three changed the balance and did not favour Heggem, who has shown he is more comfortable in a four-man line, but that more was expected of him.

The report says the situation could still turn around: there are several weeks and six matches to play before the January window opens, giving Heggem time to try to convince Palladino. It adds that his words in Norway would not have been welcomed at Casteldebole, and that publicly evoking a departure so far from the market risks becoming pressure on the club, almost a forcing move. Bologna, the report says, has no interest in losing a defender it has invested in, nor in accepting an ultimatum. Heggem said a transfer is something he is open to, explaining it will be a matter to address together with Bologna because "we have to understand what is best for both," and noting he has not yet had a discussion with Palladino.