Pontus Almqvist impressed a lot in IFK Norrköping in 2020.

Later that year, he left the club for Russian Rostov.

- It was a big decision to leave everything from home, so it took some time in the beginning to get used to the culture, language and everything around.

I feel that I learned a lot as a person and player abroad, says Almqvist to SVT Sport and continues:

- It is tougher competition and you learn to handle adversity much better.

Some periods everything flows and you have no problems at all, other periods are worse and then you just have to get out of the pit as quickly as possible.

"The war affected me ..."

Almqvist is so far satisfied with what he has achieved in the Russian club.

- I have played a lot and taken a step forward in my game, and even when I have failed, I have continued by learning from it.

However, it has not been easy given Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

- The war affected me a lot from home.

There were many who were worried, so I chose to take the chance to play elsewhere.

Fifa (the International Football Association) decided to pause the foreign players' contracts, which meant that Almqvist could be loaned out by Rostov.

The choice fell on Utrecht in the Netherlands, where there have been seven matches so far.

- It was an opportunity to test another league.

Utrecht kept an eye on me for a while and I am grateful that I got to go there.

It took its time to find the form as I was ill and injured during the pre-season and a lot happened at one and the same time.

- Now I hope to be able to contribute as much as I can in the playoffs and show what I stand for.

The Allsvenskan was an alternative - the future is unclear

Were the Allsvenskan and IFK Norrköping an alternative before Utrecht?

- IFK was an alternative, absolutely.

Is it an option to stay in Utrecht after the loan?

- The future is unclear, I focus here and now.

I take everything else later, no stress.

Do you see a sequel in Rostov?

- Will see how the situation in Rostov will be, no one knows.

How much are you considering coming back to Sweden this summer?

- Like I said, we'll see what happens this summer.

It's not something I focus on now.