– We are not bitter. We understand how football works, but would have liked to have been told about this earlier so that we could bring in a replacement.
This is what Junkeren coach Joachim Kildal says to NRK. The club is number two in Bodø and plays in the 2nd division.
According to the coach, Berntsen has given notice that he will be a Glimt player again until the summer.
The message came just days before the district team plays its first league game at the weekend. The transfer window in Norway closes at midnight on Wednesday.
– It is a shame for us. We had expected Daniel throughout the spring season, especially from May onwards. He is an important player who adds a lot of routine and quality to us, says Kildal.
The coach nevertheless understands that Berntsen wants to take the step up to Bodø/Glimt.
– It is good for Daniel that he has done so well that he gets the opportunity to play for Glimt again. He is at an age where such an opportunity might not have been likely. We hope he uses it well.
Daniel Berntsen broke through in Glimt as a teenager. He later played for clubs such as Rosenborg, Djurgården and Vålerenga. Now he will probably return to his childhood club.
Photo: Sigurd Steinum / NRK
NRK has presented the criticism to the press manager in Bodø/Glimt, Simen Pedersen.
He says that the club generally does not comment on player transfers and thus has no comment on this matter. Daniel Berntsen has not responded to our inquiry.
Works at the academy myself
The last time the 30-year-old played at the top level in Norway was for Tromsø in 2021. He has since moved home to Bodø and continued his career in the 2nd division for Junkeren.
At the same time, he has worked to bring out the next great talents in the Glimt academy.
Kildal is surprised that the big brother in the city does not produce better players himself.
– Their academy is one of those that uses the most resources in Norway. That none of the players there can contribute to everyday training is a shame, both for the city and for us as a club.
– We and other local clubs are dependent on picking up good, talented players who do not reach Glimt and can take the next step here. It is worrying that they don’t have academy players who are good enough to be part of everyday training.
– Is Glimt leaning on Junkeren here?
– I don’t think they are directly targeting us. They have brought in our three best players in the last six months. That’s perfectly fine, but we would like to see players coming the other way as well.
– Under any criticism
Stian Høgland is a sports journalist for Avisa Nordland and closely follows both Bodø/Glimt and local football in the city.
He understands the frustration from his little brother.
– The timing is, to put it mildly, frighteningly bad for Junkeren, says Høgland and adds:
– What happens in Glimt’s academy is beyond all criticism. They have hardly brought up a single player in recent seasons.
Stian Høgland believes Glimt puts Junkeren in a difficult situation.
Photo: Svein Spjelkavik
According to the sports journalist, it is the injury problems in the Glimt midfield that are the reason why Berntsen is brought in as an emergency solution.
– Both Håkon Evjen and Sondre Brunstad Fet are on their way back from injury, while Ulrik Saltnes missed some training at Easter with a minor injury. In addition, midfielders have been used as forwards because of the injury problems at the top, he explains.
