Xherdan Shaqiri not back with Fire after Euros

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Chicago Fire midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has not yet returned from the European Championships. The Designated Player was a part of the Swiss Nati team that reached the quarterfinals of the Euros, but he was not training with the Fire in their first training session this week. The Fire are gearing up for a home game against New York City FC on Saturday.

"He just finished a major tournament and it's normal that he's going to have a little bit of a break," head coach Frank Klopas said Wednesday. "We haven't yet decided on the date that he will be back in Chicago, but it's very normal after a major tournament and, being away early and with the travel and everything, he's going to have some time off and we still deciding when that return date will be."

"He's not going to be here for NYCFC (this weekend), and then we have a midweek game Wednesday (at Cincinnati), and Saturday (at Inter Miami) and then we have that break. That's really the decision that we have to really think about it and see if we bring him before those games. It's just a matter of time and deciding in the next couple of days."

Shaqiri reported early for the Swiss pre-tournament camp, missing an MLS game against D.C. United to do so. He played just 71 minutes in the tournament, but scored one of the goals of the competition in his lone start against Scotland. The midfielder appeared off the bench and played well in Switzerland's shootout elimination against England last Saturday. Shaqiri's goal against Scotland made him both the first active Chicago Fire and MLS player to ever score in the Euros.

In recent days, the big-money DP has been linked with a move to Greek giants Panathinaikos. Sources tell MIR97 Media that the Fire have not yet received any offer for Shaqiri; nonetheless, the team would be willing to pick up the phone should one come in. The Fire are looking to move on from Shaqiri, but a hefty salary does make finding a buyer significantly more difficult. His roughly $8.1 million-per-year contract expires at the end of the season.

Speaking with Swiss media prior to the Euros, Shaqiri addressed his club's future, stating that he "wants to return to Europe" and indicated that he would deal with such matters following the conclusion of the tournament. The 32-year-old also discussed the Fire's current situation and questioned whether sporting director Georg Heitz has made the right investments in the transfer market.

"Unfortunately, the right decisions weren't made over the past few years," Shaqiri said. "That's why we now have this result. Hopefully the sporting management will learn from its mistakes."

When Shaqiri left for the Euros in May, the Fire were in the midst of a nine-game winless run. Following his departure, his Fire teammates embarked on a four-game unbeaten run and have resurrected a stagnant offense, averaging roughly two goals per game. Klopas switched to a dynamic 3-5-2 formation, dramatically changing their style of play as their most expensive player was out of action; homegrown attacking midfielder Brian Gutiérrez has been one of the main beneficiaries, thriving in his natural #10 role that was vacated by Shaqiri.

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