Photo: © FC Zenit, Maksim Konstantinov / Global Look Press, Angel Martinez / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru
It is July, and many Russian players who left their clubs after the end of the 2021/22 season are still looking for new homes. Among them, for example, the star ex-Zenith player Artem Dzyuba, who got on the radar of Turkish teams, but did not sign a contract with one of them.
Before the start of the new season is within easy reach, it’s time to decide on your future. So who hasn’t done it yet?
Stars of Zenith
The brightest saga unfolded around the former striker of the club from the banks of the Neva. According to media reports, Artem is as close as possible to Turkey. It was reported that the 33-year-old striker is interesting to Galatasaray, but is more persistent in negotiations with Fenerbahce. The salary was even named, according to Match TV, Istanbul residents are ready to pay more than 2.5 million euros a year. However, Fenerbahce denies their interest in Artem, calling all the information rumors.
It is also possible that the forward will move to Ferencvaros Stanislav Cherchesov, where he is promised a three-year contract with a salary of 1 million euros. And, finally, the interest of the Greek Olympiacos is reported.
Another prominent Zenit player of recent years, Magomed Ozdoev, also showed interest from Turkish clubs, but without much specifics, unlike exotic Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal are waiting with open arms for the 29-year-old midfielder and are offering him impressive amounts of money, though the exact amount has not been specified. Neither Ozdoev nor Dzyuba seem to have any intention of staying in Russia.
World Cup Hero
Performances at the home world championship remained almost the most stable in Cheryshev’s career. At his last club, Valencia, the Russian was more likely to recover from injuries than he was to score goals or make assists. Actually, the talented midfielder suffers from this throughout his life. But he always quickly found options, and this time Denis hung out for a long time without a club and for the first time can leave Spain.
Interest in Cheryshev was reported by Dynamo, Torpedo and Pari NN. Cheryshev himself said that he had offers from exotic countries, as well as from Turkish and Spanish teams. Who knows, maybe the new coach of Valencia, Gennaro Gattuso, will even want to return the 31-year-old winger.
Veterans of Krasnodar
“Krasnodar” dramatically rejuvenated and got rid of legionnaires. In many ways, this is a forced measure due to sanctions against the owner of the club, Sergei Galitsky. Experienced Russian players also fell under the hand – the contracts ended with the goalkeeper Yevgeny Gorodov and midfielder Yuri Gazinsky, who scored the first goal at the home world championship.
So far, the interest of other clubs in them has not been heard, although both the 36-year-old Gorodov and the 32-year-old Gazinsky are quite suitable for the RPL teams to strengthen the clip.
Undisciplined talent and his older comrade
Even partners teased Ilzat Akhmetov about his discipline. Red cards are a common occurrence for a native of Bishkek. The talented midfielder rose to the ranks of the Russian national team and looked good a couple of years ago, but then he disappeared from the radar and did not even deserve a new contract with CSKA. Fans, apparently, were not very upset. Now Ilzat is looking for a new club, and, as reported in the media, Krasnodar is seriously claiming him. True, after watching Akhmetov left the club without agreeing on a contract.
His partner, experienced Dzagoev, has two specific options – his native Alania and Khimki remaining in the strongest league. The further fate of the eminent midfielder depends only on himself. Well, and health, which, unfortunately, often fails Dzagoev.
Yuri Zhirkov / Photo: ©
FC KhimkiRussian football legends
Words are superfluous here – Zhirkov and Mamaev are indeed valiant veterans of this sport. They didn’t stay in Khimki just because of their injuries, after all, age makes itself felt.
However, Mamaev is five years younger than Zhirkov, so the 33-year-old midfielder, of course, has more chances to play somewhere else. Moreover, Pavel himself said that he still had a desire to work. He recently became a father for the second time, and this is always an additional motivation.
But his senior colleague Yuri Valentinovich has not yet made any statements. The question is, is the 38-year-old Zhirkov ready to continue risking his health? One way or another, but there is no information about interest in these players from any teams yet.
Bonus – a list of Russians who left their clubs
Dynamo defenders Zaurbek Pliev and Roman Evgeniev, Lokomotiv defender Boris Rotenberg, Akhmat goalkeeper Vitaly Gudiev and his partner, defender Alexander Putsko, Paris NN midfielders Alexander Sapeta and Denis Tkachuk, Ural striker Andrey Panyukov, forward “Krylya Sovetov” Maxim Kanunnikov, Arsenal defenders Igor Smolnikov, Ivan Novoseltsev and Taras Burlak, as well as the players of the relegated Rubin FNL Georgy Zotov, Ivan Ignatiev, Vladislav Ignatiev and Alexander Zuev.
