Oscar Schwartau has reflected on a whirlwind summer that saw him turn his back on boyhood club Brondby to join Norwich City.
The Canaries swooped for the highly-rated 18-year-old after becoming aware of his situation at the Danish club, with Johannes Hoff Thorup speaking of his surprise that Schwartau was attainable after his move was confirmed.
Schwartau is considered one of Denmark’s hottest young talents and made his debut at 16 for Brondby, becoming their youngest-ever player in the process. He went onto make 46 appearances prior to his emotional summer exit to join Thorup’s revolution at Carrow Road.
Brondby’s supporters were frustrated by Schwartau’s exit, but he has explained why he decided it was the right moment, albeit difficult and not the easy option, to leave the 11-time Danish champions.
“It was my own decision. It’s a big and difficult decision, but now I’m really happy, and I feel it was the right decision I made,” the teenager said in an interview with the Danish outlet Tipsbladet.
“It was really hard to say goodbye in Brondby. I’ve been there for five or six years, so your everyday life changes completely when you’ve been there for that long – every day. So it was a tough switch, but I also feel like it was the right one.”
As a Brondby fan and having graduated from their youth development programme, Schwartau intended to remain at Vilfort Park and continue his progress, but a lack of game time forced his hand.
Brondby even offered to extend the teenager’s contract to keep him at the club, but Schwartau’s frustrations were never financial.
Ultimately, he became convinced by the pitch given to him and his representatives by Ben Knapper, Thorup, and head of recruitment Lee Dunn and decided City was the best destination for his career to continue blossoming.
“My clear dream was to break through in Brondby, but that was it with playing time, and I didn’t quite feel that there was the confidence that I had hoped for, but now I’m here, and I’m really, really happy.
“You always want to contribute to the team, play well and do your best, and there was just no room for that in Brondby,” he said.
“I was happy with the offer they made, and I was happy that they wanted to extend, but as I said, I had slightly different ambitions for playing time.”
Norwich wasn’t Schwartau’s only option, but the promise of first-team football coupled with his relationship with Thorup, the pair share representatives, made it a more attractive option for the teenager.
There were also options to remain in Denmark, but his willingness to broaden his horizons brought him to Norfolk. City paid around £2m for his services, and Schwartau penned a four-year deal with an extra year club option.
“There were, of course, some other clubs in the picture, but it wasn’t something I really wanted,” Schwartau reflected.
“I had told my agent that, too. I would find it difficult to see myself playing in another Danish club.
“I will miss the community, the boys, everyone around the team and the fans. It has been some really good years. There are many people you get to know very well and who become close to you, so of course it is difficult.”
Schwartau has subsequently been joined at Norwich by former teammate Anis Ben Slimane. That pre-existing relationship has aided his adaptation to life in England.
Slimane’s injury has prevented the pair from linking up on the pitch beyond 45 minutes as part as a double change in their win at Coventry earlier this month.
“Now Anis [Ben Slimane] has also arrived. It’s great to have someone you already know and have a relationship with,” Schwartau said.
“It’s great and we’re having fun. He tries to show me around to see things.”
Schwartau has started both of City’s last two matches and looked more comfortable as part of the midfield three in their 4-1 victory over Watford.
In Thorup and assistant Glen Riddersholm, Schwartau has two coaches with belief in his capabilities. The hope is that his influence will grow with further exposure to life in the Championship.
But running through his performances to date have been a maturity beyond his years. City are now tasked with taking him to the next level.
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