He said football had always been a central part of his family’s story as his grandfather had been a professional footballer who had played for Syria’s first national team after the country gained independence from France in 1946.
Bader joined Rochdale’s youth system aged 12 before moving to Stockport County at 16, remaining there until he was 20.
He said he was approached by the Syrian Football Association about playing for the country’s under-15 and under-18 sides, but he rejected both approaches because he did not want to support the country’s government.
He said he believed accepting would have been “a disrespect to people’s memories” and though the decision may have cost him contracts in Asia, he said he was glad he had “stuck with my morals”.
Bader said he enjoyed his four years at Edgeley Park and was supported by County’s coaches and staff.
“I loved my time at Stockport, I loved everything about it,” he said.
He said he finished his first season strongly and was “knocking in and around the first team”, believing he had a chance to move up the ranks.
His closest involvement with the senior side came before Stockport’s FA Cup third-round tie against Premier League West Ham United in January 2021, where Bader said he was “in the matchday squad”.
He said he was one of several academy players given Covid tests so they could act as contingency cover if the first-team squad was affected by the virus.
“It was a proud moment for me,” he said.