VALLE (VG) He saved a penalty on his debut. The clan shouted his name, while the coach said it was the greatest goalkeeper talent he had ever seen. Getting to know Magnus Sjøeng (20).

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His biggest dream is to play with the Norwegian flag on his chest – but there is still a long way to go for recent debutant Vålerenga. The 20-year-old was outstanding in his A-team debut in the cup against Bodø/Glimt on 29 June, and thus became a new acquaintance for most of Norwegian Football.

– I naturally get nervous, that’s how it is. “I think I found the perfect balance between being nervous and staying calm,” Sjøeng told VG about his debut.

He said that after he signed some autographs for a group of excited boys who were present during the Vlerenga training session. The 197-centimeter tall man, who may have to get used to autographs, came to Vlerenga at the age of 14 after playing children’s football for Skeid. He said he felt like the son of Vålerenga and Kant Timur.

– I’m an East End kid and being allowed to stand in front of the Klan and get support there (against Glimt) is absolutely fantastic.

On Sunday, he was in goal as Vlerenga snatched a long-awaited win also at the Eliteserien, with a 3-0 win over Kristiansund.

Grefsen’s recent debutant’s goal is to establish himself as Vålerenga’s first choice between the sticks. He will face stiff competition there this season after that Per Kristian Bråtveit (26) signed contract until the 2022 season with Vlerenga.

VG met Sjøeng before Vlerenga’s first summer signing was made. He then made it clear he would have to appear from time to time to gain confidence as first choice, before he added:

– The work isn’t done yet.

The last two first-choice goalkeepers for the blue shirts are Kristoffer Klaesson and Kjetil Haug, who have been sold to Leeds United and Toulouse respectively. That’s what inspired the 20-year-old.

“Yes, it’s absolutely fantastic to see that it’s so close and to see that there’s an opportunity, so it’s just for me to work, and it’s going to work,” said the ambitious goalkeeper.

– Of course, you have big ambitions. I’ve always supported Dortmund, so it’s always been a dream to play there, but right now I’m focused on Vlerenga and first place there.

But the national team is the biggest dream.

– Playing with the flag on your chest is something very special, said Sjøeng, who is registered with three international matches by age.

With some aging national team goalkeepers in Rune Jarstein (37), André Hansen (32), Sten Grytebust (32) and rjan Nyland (31), the 2002 model knew that opportunities would open up, but at the same time showed that he was a good friend. Klaesson intervened.

To Television 2 Vålerenga coach Dag-Eilev Fagermo said recently that Sjøeng is the best-talented goalkeeper he has ever seen. Sports manager Joacim Jonsson also expressed great enthusiasm for the Grefsen man to VG:

– Magnus is very good (in his debut), no doubt about that. But putting the onus on a 20-year-old for the rest of the season is too brutal, so it’s not necessarily player development. There we see alternatives. If he looks good, he stands out. “He will be a first-team goalkeeper here for many years and certainly in a bigger arena than Intility as well,” Jonsson said before Bråtveit’s announcement.