Bojan Krkic cannot play for Serbia, says FIFA

Serbia made the request despite a long-established FIFA rule that means players are not permitted to change national teams after appearing in a competitive match.

Eight years ago, the former Barcelona player made one appearance for Spain, where he was born. At 18, Bojan came on as a substitute in Spain’s 4-0 win over Armenia in Albacete in September 2008. Spain went on to win the 2010 World Cup.

Bojan was rated one of Barcelona’s most exciting young prospects and was even touted by many as having the potential to match Lionel Messi in coming years. Since then, he has somewhat failed to live up to the expectations. After leaving the Catalan giants in 2011 he played for Roma and spent a year on loan at AC Milan before returning to his boyhood club.

He couldn’t find a place in the Barcelona first team during his second spell and was loaned out to Dutch team Ajax. Bojan currently into his third season as a player for Premier League side Stoke City. Although he has enjoyed relative success at Stoke, the club has had to suffer a horrendous start to the current season and sit at the bottom of the table with one point from their first five matches.

Serbia is in a six-team 2018 World Cup qualifying group that includes Wales, Austria and Ireland.