Zavarzin said he would not send his child to the Mamaev Academy

The former president of the RPL, Yuri Zavarzin, told RB Sport that he would not give his child to the academy of Pavel Mamaev and Fedor Smolov, which he considers a marketing ploy.

On January 20, the players announced the opening of the academy in Dubai.

– I would not give my child to the Mamaev Academy. He is with his past, with his huge spots on his body, and also the academy in Dubai – who will send children there? This academy is some kind of incomprehensible marketing ploy. In Russia, no one would definitely go to him. Mamaev is not such a famous person that people from all over the world come to him. The Ajax school will be more fun,” Zavarzin said.

Mamaev, 34, announced his retirement on February 11. He has been a free agent since leaving Khimki in July 2022.

The Russian football season will resume on February 22 with FONBET Russian Cup matches. On March 3, the WORLD RPL draw will continue. Watch live broadcasts of RPL matches and the Cup of the country on the Match TV federal channel and the thematic channels of the holding, as well as on matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites.