No Stopping Tijjani: How Tijjani Noslin’s Surge in Success Can Bless Marco Baroni’s Lazio
After carefully building his skills in the Netherlands, Tijjani Noslin is delivering on the big scene in Serie A, and his performances have earned him a move to Lazio. The Amsterdam-born forward came from humble beginnings playing in and around his hometown with many tryouts with a range of teams before joining Eredivisie side FC Twente’s academy for a stint before being released at the tender age of 18.
Once a student of Dutch cult hero Wesley Sneijder, formerly of Internazionale Milano, Noslin looked to develop his game and grow from experience before the end of his youth career to insert himself into a talented pool of Dutch players emerging onto the elite stages in European football.
The dynamic Dutchman managed to get his break in the summer transfer window of 2021, signing for Limburg-based side Fortuna Sittard, joining forces with then coach Sjors Ultee. In his first season for the club, Noslin only managed to score 1 goal in over 25 appearances for the club.
As the seasons went on, the Dutchman proved to play a pivotal role in Fortuna Sittard’s style of play, stamping their place amongst the mid table positions. After two convincing seasons with Fortuna Sittard, speculations grew of other European teams’ interest for Noslin.
Interests grew far and wide from the Premier League to the Serie A, however Hellas Verona managed to secure the Dutchman’s signature mid season, a signing proved important to ensure the survival of Hellas Verona. A player known for his electric pace and directness in the attacking phases, I Gialloblu managed to safely clinch a place in the Italian top flight for another season, thanks to the heroics of the likes of Suslov, Noslin and Serdar.
Noslin’s intelligence both on and off the ball proved dividends in attacking and defensive situations especially considering the disorderly fashion Marco Baroni’s Hellas Verona started and ended the first half of the Serie A season. The Dutchman’s first goal for the Verona side came in a crucial 2-2 draw against La Vecchia Signora of Juventus at home. A game which left the Verona faithful impressed by Noslin’s display, a versatile forward able to break defensive lines in fast transitions of play.
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Noslin’s workrate aided the attacking players of I Gialloblu to secure back-to-back wins against fellow relegation-stricken sides Lecce and Sassuolo. I Mastini managed to grasp an important point away from home against Atalanta, with the Dutchman running the show in the second half, with a goal and an assist in quick succession.
A few games later, Noslin continued his stunning form with a MOTM display by the dynamic forward,securing all 3 points against Italiano’s Fiorentina. The Verona faithful were left impressed by then coach Marco Baroni’s turnaround of events, enabling an identifiable style of play to contend with survival in the second half of the Serie A season.
Hellas Verona’s swift change of wind came in the January window alongside the signing of Noslin which seemed to fit the criteria of what scouts of the club were looking for. A player who is versatile to fit into different systems whether it’s possession-based or a long-ball to find their forwards.
Noslin finished his first season away from the Netherlands, with a total of 9 goal contributions in 17 appearances. Signings made such as Noslin and other attacking threats such as Karol Swiderski, Noslin and Tomas Suslov proved to be what was missing and only made I Gialloblu stronger.
The season ended and the summer transfer window opened and top teams in the Serie A were left without a leader at the helm, with Antonio Conte joining Napoli and Paulo Fonseca joining Milan, other teams were left scouting across the country to see who would be available to coach, especially the likes of Lazio.
Following Hellas Verona’s dismissal of duty with Baroni, Lazio’s ears pricked up straight away to ensure that the Florence-born will be their new head coach. A few weeks after Baroni’s appointment, Lazio made sure the new coach was equipped with the right tools to contend for a possible Scudetto with I Biancocelesti.
Lazio had to act following the departure of veteran Ciro Immobile and prioritised signing Tijjani Noslin to SS Lazio and join forces with his former coach at Hellas Verona and be a pivotal part of the puzzle. Marco Baroni heads into the new campaign with one of his own, knowing all of the Dutchman’s flaws and traits as he looks to exploit teams with Noslin’s pace and elegance on the ball in attacking phases of play.
La consapevolezza non basta; ci vuole pure l’applicazione
By: Lorenzo Gagliotta / @LG24Sports
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Image Photo Agency / Getty Images