Labinot Kabashi

Labinot Kabashi (born 28 February 2000) is a Kosovan footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish team Villarreal C. Described as a technical player, Kabashi can operate as either a midfielder or a winger. He has drawn comparisons to Spanish player Andrés Iniesta.[2][3]

Labinot Kabashi
Personal information
Full name Labinot Kabashi
Date of birth (2000-02-28) 28 February 2000[1]
Place of birth Vantaa, Finland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Villarreal C
Number 18
Youth career
2008–2010 Gimnàstic
2010–2020 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Barcelona B 0 (0)
2020– Villarreal C 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 November 2020

Club career

Barcelona

Kabashi joined FC Barcelona's youth setup from Gimnàstic when he was 10 years old.[4] In November 2016, he suffered an ACL injury that kept him on the sidelines for a year and a half.[5] He once again suffered the same injury in March 2018, keeping him out for almost a year.[6] On 9 February 2019, it was announced that he would return with the U19's in a match against CE Europa. Upon his return he injured himself again, seven minutes after coming off the bench.[7][8] The following 15 February, he renewed with the club until 30 June 2021.[9][10]

On 30 January 2020, he was promoted to Barcelona B.[11] Barcelona terminated his contract the following 5 October.[12]

Villarreal C

On 28 October 2020, Villarreal CF published the squad list for Villarreal C for the 2020–21 season, and Kabashi was included.[13] Three days later, he made his debut in a 3–3 away draw against Atlético Saguntino after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Richard Franco.[14]

International career

He was eligible for Kosovo and Spain internationally, as well as Finland, his birthplace.[15][16] On 2 October 2016, Kabashi was called up to the Kosovo national team at only 16 years of age.[17][18][19] He was an unused substitute in the World Cup qualifying matches against Croatia,[20] and Ukraine,[21] due to Barcelona indirectly sending a request through Kabashi's father to ask the national team not to play Kabashi in the matches, because there could be problems after activation.[22]

Personal life

Kabashi was born in Vantaa, Finland,[1] to a Kosovo Albanian father and a Finnish mother.[15][16]

Honours

Barcelona

References
  1. "10. Labinot". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. "Labinot Kabashi, con la magia de Iniesta" [Labinot Kabashi, with the magic of Iniesta] (in Spanish). Sport. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. "Barcelona-Juwel Labinot Kabashi: Der Andres Iniesta des Kosovo" [Barcelona jewel Labinot Kabashi: The Andrés Iniesta of Kosovo] (in German). Goal. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  4. "Un hijo de la Guerra de Kosovo" [A child of the Kosovan War] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  5. "Labinot, el prodigio emergente" [Labinot, the emerging prodigy] (in Spanish). Vavel. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. "El Barça espera a Labinot Kabashi" [Barça awaits Labinot Kabashi] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  7. "Labinot se vuelve a lesionar el día de su retorno" [Labinot is injured again on the day of his return] (in Spanish). Sport. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  8. "Labinot pasará otra vez por el quirófano" [Labinot will have to go under the knife again] (in Spanish). Sport. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "El Barça renueva a Labinot Kabashi tras lesionarse de gravedad" [Barça renew Labinot Kabashi after he seriously injures himself] (in Spanish). Sport. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  10. "El Barça renueva a Labinot tras su grave lesión" [Barça renews Labinot after his serious injury] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. "Labinot, el último 'refuerzo' para el Barça B" [Labinot, the last "reinforcemnet" for Barça B] (in Spanish). Sport. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  12. "Oficial: El Barça rescinde el contrato de Labinot Kabashi" [Official: Barça terminates Labinot Kabashi's contract] (in Spanish). Sport. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. "Villarreal C's big jump". Villarreal CF C. 28 October 2020.
  14. "Saguntino vs. Villarreal III 3–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  15. "Kush është Labinot Kabashi, i cili po konsiderohet Iniesta i Kosovës (Foto)" [Who is Labinot Kabashi, who is being considered Iniesta of Kosovo (Photo)] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. "Who is Labinot Kabashi? Meet Barcelona's 16-year-old wonderkid refugee compared to Iniesta". Goal. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  17. "Përzgjedhësi Bunjaki shpalli listën për ndeshjet me Kroacinë e Ukrainën" [Bunjaki announces the list of players for the matches with Croatia and Ukraine] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  18. "16-year-old Labinot Kabashi gets surprise call-up for senior Kosovo squad". FC Barcelona. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  19. "Kosovo convoca a Labinot Kabashi, a un juvenil de 16 años del Barça" [Kosovo calls-up Labinot Kabashi, a 16-year-old youth from Barça] (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  20. "Kosovo vs Croatia – FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group I". Sky Sports. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  21. "Ukraine vs Kosovo – FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group I". Sky Sports. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  22. "Barcelona kishte kërkuar që Labinot Kabashi të mos luaj për Kosovën" [Barcelona had asked that Labinot Kabashi not to play for Kosovo]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 26 April 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  23. "Barcelona get back on top". UEFA. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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