Artem Dzyuba is the Morgenstern of football: a popular character with a negative connotation, which at the same time shows phenomenal numbers. Artem’s quotes sell like hot cakes, and transfer news with his last name always arouses great interest among the public.

More recently, the media matched the striker to top Turkish clubs such as Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. No wonder, because Dziuba is the top scorer of the RPL in recent years, plus a leader by nature. However, on July 12, unexpectedly for everyone, Artem appeared at the Rubin training session with his old friend Leonid Slutsky. The press service of the Kazan club even published a video in which the striker greets the team’s players.

What is it for Artem – a powerful reunion with a coach or downshifting of the year? Kazanians will play in the First League, not the RPL.

Leonid Slutsky / Photo: © FC Rubin

The reason for the appearance of Dziuba in Rubin is quite logical

Artem’s transfer to Kazan was expected a few months ago, at the moment when the first rumors about leaving Zenit arose. All this was presented as a reunion with the coach Slutsky, with whom the football player has friendly relations. However, then Rubin played in the RPL, and now it has dropped to the First League. Why does Artem need such a team? But don’t fantasize.

The press service of Kazan quickly explained why Dziuba came to visit them.

– Dziuba – in Slutsky’s dream team. Today Artem arrived at the Rubin base and had a training session with the team. However, we are not talking about signing a contract – the forward simply keeps in shape with Leonid Viktorovich while he is looking for a new club, the message says.

It turns out that Artem will not be in Rubin. It’s a pity, it would be interesting to know how much the top forward of Russia will score in the First League. Is it more than at one time Ivan Sergeev, who ousted him from Zenit? By the way, Artem is already the third player who is now keeping fit at Rubin: Evgeny Bashkirov (ex-Zaglembe) and Alexander Tashaev (ex-Rotor) are also training in the team.

Artem Dziuba / Photo: © FC Zenit

Does Dzyuba have options at all?

The 33-year-old striker seemed to be of interest to the Turkish Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. Even the salary was called. According to Match TV, Istanbulites were willing to pay about 2.5 million euros a year. However, this news was a week ago, since then – silence. Also called “Ferencvaros” by Stanislav Cherchesov and the Greek “Olympiacos”. Surprisingly, there is not a single leak or news about the future of Dziuba.

Maybe Artyom really should stay and work with Slutsky? Kazan is the place where Dziuba can again become an urban superhero. It is unlikely that Rubin will stay in the First League for more than a year, so already in the 2023/24 season, the forward can start revenge and score a couple of goals against Zenit.

And you can still get the trophy! It is unlikely that Dziuba will return to St. Petersburg, which means that it is unlikely that he will be able to become the champion of the RPL again. But you can feel the taste of victory again by lifting the First League Cup! Why not motivation?