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Miralem Pjanic

Exclusive interview with Miralem Pjanic, professional footballer with Olympique Lyonnais.

Casinoweb met with a very promising player from the Olympique Lyonnais football club : Miralem Pjanic. This excellent forward was kind enough to spend time with us and to share with us his early football career, his plans for the future, and his opinion on casinos and also on poker. Remember the name “Pjanic”, this young, talented player will be a major football star in a few years time.



Casinoweb: Hello Miralem Pjanic, Casinoweb thanks you for giving us this exclusive interview. You were born in Tulza in Bosnia. Tell us about your professional journey  from Bosnia to Luxemburg.

Miralem Pjanic : I was born in Tulza in Bosnia on the 2nd of April 1990. I left Bosnia when I was one year old because of the war. My parents decided to leave the country as the situation was worsening and they went to Luxemburg. They obtained the necessary papers and we were authorised to stay. My father started to play football and from watching him I wanted to play too. My mother worked evenings and my father had to take me to the football pitches with him and that's how I started to really like this sport. We always lived in the same village in Luxemburg and we still have houses there and as soon as we have some free time we all go back there.

Casinoweb : At what age did you start to play football?

Miralem Pjanic  : I started to play football at the age of five, five and a half. I started playing quite early just for enjoyment. Then it became more and more serious  and at twelve and a half, thirteen I was spotted by Metz FC. I played with them for five years,  I had four years of training and the fifth year, last year, I started to play as a pro. I have very good memories of Metz FC and I like this city and its people and I return whenever I can. I like the staff in Metz, they helped me greatly and it's thanks to them, to their work and my own efforts that I was able to come to the best French club to-day. Since I have been with Olympique Lyonnais I have discovered a different world, it's fantastic and I am really very happy. Now I hope to win some titles  with Lyon.

Casinoweb : When you started how was the reception you got from the older Olympique Lyonnais players ?

Miralem Pjanic : At the beginning, I was a little afraid, I was young, I had just turned 18. I was new amongst the best players in France and that made me want to progress with them. Now I feel that I am progressing and it's super and at my young age it's exceptional. The players don't  argue and no one is big-headed, I think. We all have the same desire, that is to win and I'm extremely happy to be with Olympique Lyonnais.

Casinoweb : When you were a boy which major clubs made you dream? As a child was there a player or players, who made you wish to become a footballer?

Miralem Pjanic : Real Madrid made me dream in the days of Zidane and Ronaldo at a time when Real was the strongest. This team made me dream and besides that Real is my favourite club and always will be. I hope to play there one day, why not? I'd fulfill my greatest wish, I'm going to work hard to succeed. Already, I plan to do great things here in Lyon, have a good career and if everything goes well why not at Real Madrid?

Casinoweb : And today do any players make you dream?

Miralem Pjanic : Yes definitely, at one time it was Maradona, Zidane and now it's Christiano  Ronaldo or Messi. These are exceptional players, one always hopes to reach their level. It's not easy, one has to work. I have great ambition and I hope to reach the top.

Casinoweb : You were able to rub shoulders with Messi, one of your idols, during the champions league against Barcelona. How is the team's mood  after the defeat of OL by Barca?

Miralem Pjanic  : We were up against a good team, one of the best in the world at the moment. Barcelona knew how to get us moving and in the return match this team knew how to take the lead and that facilitated things for them. Barcelona  leads the game against any team and that can cause damage and they succeeded in doing this with OL. That day we were facing a better team and Barcelona deserved to win. During the away game we could have done much better than we did. We had a few regrets after the match, we could have sealed the match before half time because we had many chances to do this. We were eliminated and now we have the championship. The team is united and concentrating only on winning the championship and we will do everything to win it.

Casinoweb : You have been wearing the Bosnian strip since you have been on the national team. How did you feel the first time you wore your country's strip?

Miralem Pjanic  : It's an honour. It warms my heart to have been chosen to be among the players on the Bosnian national team, it was so special for me. I was proud, happy for myself, my parents, my family, for everyone, and also for the country. Everytime that I go back to Bosnia there's a “mad” atmosphere, I never experienced that before. So I always want to go back, it makes me happy. It's exceptional especially for one's country and we have a good team this year and are planning on doing well, that motivates us to go even further. In any case I am very proud to play for my country.

Casinoweb : What are your pastimes when you are not on the football pitch?

Miralem Pjanic : When I have the time I go shopping, spend time with friends, I go to the cinema or else I just relax. We do a lot of training, we had a lot of matches and I rest in order to play well in these matches.

Casinoweb : Let's talk about casinos and poker. The city of Lyon has two casinos : have you ever been to the Pharaon Casino or the Lyon Vert? Do you enjoy casino games ( slot machines, baccarat, black jack, video poker)?

Miralem Pjanic  : I've been to the casino two or three times, to the Lyon Vert. I don't play slot machines or poker ( in actual casinos- editor's note). I play poker with friends at home or in Luxemburg just for enjoyment. In the casino I mostly play roulette, I'm not a great player, I go there to enjoy myself. I'm not someone who is going to go there twice or three times in the month, more likely twice in a year, which isn't too bad. I like poker. I play it quite often when I'm with my cousin.

Casinoweb : Poker is phenominally successful in the whole world especially in France. Do you ever play it with other footballers? ( when you are returning from a match in the bus, the plane?)

Miralem Pjanic : Yes, there are several players who play among themselves or on the internet. I discovered poker a year ago, it's a very captivating game. I play for the adrenalin rush, the strategy... one can bluff, it's quite good.

Casinoweb : What's your best memory of a poker game in a tournament or of your best hand?

Miralem Pjanic : I have some good memories but there is one that stands out. There were several of us, we had a tournament, I had a good hand. One player kept raising my call each time. He continued and at a certain point I said to myself “ It's not possible he's not much better than I am.” After a while I folded and at the end I knew it was a bluff and I was really annoyed.

Casinoweb : This year the the online games market will open up to French players. In short, an internet user in France can legally bet on a sports betting site, play poker online or go into an online casino. What do you think of this? Would you be prepared to play poker for example on the internet on a site which has obtained a French gaming licence?

Miralem Pjanic : Personally, I don't play on the internet, I play more for enjoyment in a real situation. It should please players, who like to play on line that the game is legal. I think a lot of players will take advantage of this opening up of online gaming. For myself, I play with my pals just for fun, I don't play online, I like what is real and true.

Thank you Miralem for giving us this exclusive interview.

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