The European Football Championship in June and July is a big reason why Marek Hamsik chose to break the contract with Chinese Dalian prematurely and return home to Europe again.

In just a few weeks, a national team gathering is waiting, which due to the pandemic would have been difficult to participate in if he was still in China.

That it was the Allsvenskan, however, is mostly due to the fact that the Swedish transfer window was still open - not because Sweden and Slovakia play in the same group in the European Championships.

- It is good for me to get to know Swedish football, says Marek Hamsik with a wide smile.

- I remember the training match in Stockholm two years ago (1-1), it is always difficult to play against Sweden, it is a very physical team.

But I'm not thinking about the European Championships now, now I'm thinking about Gothenburg and playing for this team.

Not in top form

It has been a couple of hectic days after landing at Landvetter on Sunday, the 33-year-old states after stepping off his first training session with IFK Gothenburg about half an hour before his teammates.

Hamsik has trained with a team in the Slovak second division in recent weeks, but admits that he has a bit left to top form.

The idea, however, is that he will get playing time already in a training match against Sirius in Linköping on Saturday.

- It is clear that I am not at my highest level yet.

I'm in good shape, but I need some time.

I hope I'm okay in a few weeks, he says.

Marek Hamsik is captain of the Slovak national team, but is otherwise best known for his time in Naples - and for his characteristic rooster comb hairstyle.

It was close that the 33-year-old returned to Slovan Bratislava, which was his first senior club.

But instead, he signed for IFK Gothenburg on Monday until August 30 - however with the option of being able to leave for another club already after the European Championships.

- I am very happy to have this chance to play.

It's been a long time since I played big matches and I will play in a good league with a good team, so I'm glad I'm here, he says.

"A world-class player"

Exactly how good the Slovak is right now was a bit difficult to judge on the artificial turf at Valhalla IP.

But the teammates were at least impressed afterwards.

- He will make a huge difference, of course, if he can be whole and healthy.

He is a world-class player, so he should do that, says Pontus Wernbloom.

-– Then we should not completely rely on him.

But it is important that the rest of us play at a high level as well so that we get the best out of him.