Valmir Nafiu from Shkendija has joined Basel for their preparations and played in two friendlies over the past couple of days.

Basel has been showing interest in Nafiu for several months now and he recently joined the team for their training camp as they get ready for the upcoming season.  Nafiu is only 17 years old but his biggest accomplishment to date was when he was invited to go on trial to Spanish giants Barcelona last year.  Nafiu is a member of the Macedonian U17 national team and one of his teammates, David Babunski, is already a member of the Barcelona youth system.  Barcelona scouts were watching Babunski but then noticed Nafiu who impressed the scouts so they invited him to come on trial at Barcelona.  He went on trial at Barcelona and every indication was that it went well but then the Swiss champions Basel became very interested in Nafiu and have been tracking him for months.  Nafiu was also invited to join the Basel training camp earlier this year and he played several friendly games.

Nafiu can’t sign with Basel at the moment because he is still only 17 years old.  He must turn 18 before he can sign with a team from abroad.  Swiss newspapers are reporting that Basel plans on signing Nafiu in the summer of 2012 as Nafiu doesn’t turn 18 until 23 April 2012.  Basel could reach a pre-agreement with Shkendija to let Nafiu play one more season for the defending Macedonian champions before he joins Basel in the summer of 2012.  Nafiu has played in two friendlies for Basel over the past couple of days.  He played the first half for Basel against Neuchâtel Xamax in a 3:1 loss on June 24th and played the second half yesterday in a 3:3 draw between Basel and St. Gallen.