In the control rooms of Casteldebole we look to the near future, more precisely to the next season, and on the market we look for even low cost opportunities. Sartori and Di Vaio are silently, behind the scenes, planning the next season with the aim of expanding in view of the European events. Whether they are from the Champions League, Europe or Conference League. One of the names that Bologna is keeping under control in this regard is that of the Norwegian Kristian Thorstvedt, midfielder, born in 1999, joining Sassuolo from summer 2022.
Kristian Thorstvedt’s career
Kristian Thorstvedt was born in Stavanger, Rogaland County in the southern part of Norway, on 13 March 1999.
He grew up in the youth sector of the “home” club Viking until 2012. At 13 he speaks to the Stabæk, training also in Bærum, a municipality in the southern area of Akershus County. Then, in February 2018, he returned home to Viking, with the aim of finally playing for the first team.
In 2018, with “his” Viking he immediately stood out as an above average player. Despite being a midfielder, he contributes to the team’s promotion scoring 9 goals in 24 appearances, also seasoned with 4 assists.
Having arrived in the Eliteserien, Thorstvedt still stands out even in the Norwegian top flight. Kristian scored 10 goals, plus 3 assists, in 26 appearances. Viking also wins the Norwegian Cup, which also features Thorstvedt’s signature, scoring 3 goals in 6 appearances, including a goal in the semi-final.
In January 2020, his performances attracted the attention of continental Europe. Genk secures him for just 1.5 million. His first part of experience in Belgium, on the field, lasts a month and a half because the Belgian championship is definitively interrupted due to Covid. However, he had time to score on his debut for the Flemish club.
The following 2020/21 season is also one of affirmation in Belgium. He made 34 appearances between the championship and the national cup. Appearances in which, in addition to taking a leading role, he stands out with his creative streak. In fact, he scores 9 goals (plus 3 assists), 7 of which in the Jupiler Pro League. The other two came against Mechelen in the Cup, then won by Genk (the second trophy of Thorstvedt’s career).
In 2021/22 he becomes even more important in the rotations of the Flemish “Smurfs”. 45 appearances in all competitions, including his international debut in the Champions League preliminaries and the Europa League. Also this season 7 goals had arrived.
In the summer of 2022, Sassuolo will secure him for around 10 million. The first season is mostly about setting. Under the orders of Mr. Dionisi, Kristiansen played as a starter especially in the first part of the season, decreasing his playing time towards the end. At the end of the year he made 32 appearances with 2 and 1 assist.
However, the current season is one of affirmation in Serie A. Despite Sassuolo’s difficulties, Thorstvedt begins the season as an alternative and then begins to take up more and more space. To date there are 28 appearances in Serie A (24 of which from the 1st minute), topped with 5 goals and an assist.
Thorstvedt in the national team
He began playing in the selections of the Norwegian national team in 2018, making an appearance in the under 19s. The following year, with the under 20s he participated in the World Cup in the category, scoring 2 goals in the sensational 12-0 victory of the Norwegians over Honduras ( match in which Erling Haaland scores 9 goals!)
Also in 2019, he moved to the under 21s and remained in the group for a year, collecting 7 appearances and 4 goals.
Since 18 November 2020 he has been part of the senior national team. He made his debut with Austria in the Nations League. In March 2021, in the World Cup qualifiers, against Gibraltar in his second appearance he also scored his first goal for the national team. Over the course of these years he has become an increasingly protagonist in Norway, collecting 27 appearances so far, 9 of which as starters and has 4 goals to his credit, plus 7 assists.
Physical characteristics
189 cm x 84 kg, Thorstvedt is a perfect mesomorph, equipped with an important physical structure, uniformly and well developed muscle groups. Thanks to this important and imposing physique, he possesses uncommon physical strength and power on the supports. He is able to withstand the physical impact of any opponent, so much so that he has often also been used as a striker. He is also skilled in the aerial game. While as far as speed is concerned, he is certainly not very fast in the narrow, but in the long run he can reach very important speeds.
Technical features
Naturally left-footed, he has good natural technique, thanks to which he is always very tidy with the ball at his feet starting from the first control. When he leads the ball or has to evade the intervention of an opponent in the narrow area, do not hesitate to also use the right foot. Despite his large size, Kristian handles the ball very effectively. Often, thanks to his ball-and-chain percussion, his team manages to move up the pitch very quickly.
Equipped with a good conclusion on goal, both for precision and above all for power. He has an excellent shooting technique, even with first intention, and is very quick in his control and shooting. Thorstvedt has scored many goals so far in his career. An important number for a midfielder, which testifies to his feeling with goals.
Feeling that Thorstvedt fuels with his own tactical knowledge. In fact, Krstian has shown important skills in reading the game in these seasons between Belgium and Italy. Often deployed in the attacking midfield position, the Norwegian is able to read the spaces in advance and moves according to the reception in the areas, especially between the opposing midfield and defence, left free by the opponents.
Also in this sense, the incredible ability to always arrive within the area at the right time to insert himself in tow of the offensive action should be seen.
Game reading skills that could soon help him evolve into a complete midfielder. In fact, Thorstvedt has physical strength, technical skills and knowledge of the game and spaces, perfect characteristics and qualities for a box-to-box midfielder.
Reading the game also translates into skills when not in possession. Thorstvedt is skilled at recovering balls and, as mentioned, distributing the ball quickly. However, this ability is little exploited by Sassuolo, who for technical reasons prefers to field the Norwegian as a pure attacking midfielder.
Margins of improvement
Thorstvedt still has plenty of room for improvement. In fact, his reading of spaces can be fundamental even in the non-possession phase. Positioning as the right midfielder of a midfield three would be the best solution due to his abilities in both phases.
Furthermore, he can exploit this tactical knowledge to improve his offensive choices, but above all in his contribution to the construction of the maneuver. Kristian has unique dynamism and ability to carry the ball and defend possession. Therefore moving according to the construction from below can be an addition to his skills.
Thorstvedt in Bologna?
Bologna’s interest should not be surprising. Not only is Thorstvedt a player who would adapt very well to Thiago Motta’s formation, but in general to the rossoblù technical project. Even in the event of a change of technician, Thorstvedt would be a player whose talent is on the launching pad and can be exploited in any scheme that includes a three-man midfield or an attacking midfielder.
The Norwegian is a perfect profile for Bologna’s near future. Even more so now that Ferguson’s return is expected no earlier than October and November, and the Scot will need several weeks to regain his fitness.
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