Last summer, Lokomotiv became the club that arranged the most expensive exit transfer. Alexis Beka-Beka left the “railroad” for 12 million euros, which at least slightly raised the level of confidence in the bosses of the club, making one strange decision after another. However, Loko did not stop there.

Towards the end of the transfer window, Thomas Zorn and the company sold another player. Midfielder Kirill Zinovich left for a strong championship and helped the club make good money.

Belarusians are not considered legionnaires, so now there is one more of our guys in Europe!

“I’m not afraid of anything”

Zinovich liked the Portuguese club Vitoria from Guimaraes. The team is currently in 8th place in Primeira, and last season they stopped 3 points from the European Cup zone. For Kirill, this is a chic promotion, given that he hardly played in Russia. In total, the Belarusian played 5 official matches for the main Loko team and did not score with effective actions. Interest from far from the last Portuguese team should flatter the 19-year-old attacking midfielder, who has so far achieved nothing in his career.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Mikhail Voskresensky

The player himself is optimistic. Zinovich not only looks forward to the first match for the new team, but also identifies himself as the future leader of the team:

I made the decision without hesitation. This is a club that trusts young people and I am sure that I will have a chance if I give my best. Vitoria is a club with a history and great fans, playing in one of the best European championships. That’s why I’m here. As for me, I am not afraid of anything on the field and I convey confidence to my partners. I am such a player, – the press service of Vitoria quotes Zinovich.

The contract with Kirill is for 3 years. To begin with, Zinovich will go to the second team of Vitoria, where he will fill the bumps. However, there is no doubt that sooner or later he will be transferred to the main team. It remains only to work hard and not follow the example of Alexander Kokorin.

Generous compensation

Of course, Loko parted ways with their young footballer for a reason. According to the Transfermarkt portal, the “railroad workers” will receive 800 thousand euros from the Portuguese side, that is, approximately 48 million rubles. At present, the profit is very substantial. Especially if you remember that at one time Zinovich cost Loko only 180 thousand euros.

Photo: © premierliga.ru

Looks like this deal is for everyone. Vitoria got a promising footballer who can be molded into a strong fighting unit (Portuguese youth coaches will make a footballer out of anyone), and the Moscow club made good money on a player who was not consistently included in the squad. The transfer window in Russia will be open until September 8, and in the remaining days you can try to use the funds received to strengthen the team.

Loko on its official website has already wished Zinovich success in Europe, and I want to believe that Kirill will not really disappoint. After all, it is not without reason that he is called one of the most talented Belarusian players of the current generation. In Moscow, he never showed his best qualities: first of all, the vision of the field and the ability to make a subtle pass at the right time. Perhaps in a league more advanced in terms of tactics, the midfielder will be easier.