Nikitin: “It’s for the best for Zenit that they parted ways with Gerson so quickly”

Former Ufa footballer Alexei Nikitin said on Match TV that Zenit St. Petersburg did the right thing by parting with midfielder Gerson in the winter transfer window.

On January 10, Zenit announced the departure of the 28-year-old Brazilian to Cruzeiro. Gerson moved to the Russian club in July 2025 from Flamengo. The midfielder played 15 matches for Zenit and scored two goals.

— I think that Zenit will want to buy someone to replace Gerson, because a club with such capabilities and ambitions is obliged to have many variations in the composition and many options to diversify the game. It’s for the best for Zenit that they managed to part ways with Gerson so quickly and well. Perhaps, having already been burned by Gerson, they will look for a different type of player,” Nikitin said on the air of the “Everyone for the Match!” program. on the Match TV channel.

The Blue-White-Blues, after 18 rounds with 39 points, are in second place in the WORLD RPL standings.

Zenit will take part in the WINLINE RPL Winter Cup 2026 from February 3 to 10 in Abu Dhabi. Live broadcasts of all matches of the tournament will be available on the Match TV and MATCH PREMIER TV channels.