Over the past year and a half, many foreign players of the MIR Russian Premier League have shown themselves not from the best side, leaving their teams in difficult times. This story also affected Lokomotiv.

The railroad legionnaire almost cried and begged to be let go to France, and then simply fled.

“I left the Russian Federation without notice”

Moscow “Lokomotiv” is still quite modestly conducting a summer transfer campaign. Among the newcomers, one can mention striker Vladislav Sarveli acquired from Sochi and defender Ilya Samoshnikov, who, in the status of a free agent, moved from Rubin. There are more losses in quantitative terms: the club did not renew agreements with Francois Camano, Ivan Ignatiev, Dmitry Zhivoglyadov, and Igor Smolnikov ended his career altogether. Wilson Isidor was not originally among the players who had to leave the RZD Arena, but, apparently, the French forward will not help the railroad this season.

– After the match of the 6th round of the MIR of the Russian Premier League against FC Sochi, the French footballer Wilson Isidore, in agreement with the club’s management, returned to Moscow, so that in case of receiving an offer that would suit both the club and the player, he would be transferred to one of European teams. Closer to the closing of the transfer window, the football player, without the consent of the leadership of FC Lokomotiv, left the territory of the Russian Federation and went to France, where, without notifying the club, he independently underwent a medical examination in one of the teams, the press service of Lokomotiv told Match TV.

The club notes that the railway workers never received a suitable offer, Loko asked the fugitive Frenchman to return to Moscow, but was refused through the player’s agent. Now the Russian club intends to resolve the issue “in the legal field” and, it seems, does not count on Wilson’s voluntary return to the Premier League. The question of whether it will be possible to get at least some money for the escaped footballer remains open.

Begged to let go

In July, Isidor said that he really liked Lokomotiv, and he intended to stay in Moscow. However, then options arose on the horizon with clubs from Ligue 1: Marseille, Metz, Lorient, who did not like the leadership of the railway workers. And now Isidore spoke in a different way – or rather, his agent was forced to speak.

– Wilson signed an agreement with Lokomotiv for a year that he would not go anywhere, despite FIFA’s permission. He showed respect for both the club and the fans. Isidore promised not to leave for a year and kept his word. So why is he now being treated dishonestly? His wife is pregnant. Isidore spoke to [Дмитрием] Ulyanov (sports director of Loko – approx. Sportbox.ru) on the phone and almost cried, begging to let him go. But he said: “This is a business, we want money.” Everyone is allowed to leave, but he is not,” Sport24 quotes agent Harold Ichbia, representing the interests of the Frenchman.

Each of the parties is sure that they are right, and usually in such situations it is really possible to somehow resolve the dispute in the legal field. But lately, Russian clubs have not always been able to count on unbiased arbitration.

Wilson Isidore / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich

There are, of course, some chances that the new club of Isidor will not want to acquire potential problems and will agree to some kind of compromise with Lokomotiv. But in any case, the behavior of the player raises questions. Why, just a month ago, family circumstances did not play a significant role for him, and after the appearance of some chances to return to France, he suddenly remembered his wife’s pregnancy and began to tearfully ask for freedom?

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