Alexander Dyukov, President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), said that Zenit players Malcolm and Claudinho first of all want to get Russian citizenship instead of playing for the Russian national team. Transmits words sports24.
“I wouldn’t look at it from a football perspective yet. Malcolm and Claudinho chose Russian Federation citizenship and decided to become citizens themselves. Have we examined the question of when they will be able to play in the national team? We’re working on probability. But once again, first of all, the motivation was precisely to get a Russian passport, ”said Dyukov.
In the summer, the Brazilian players of Zenit Malcolm and Claudinho announced that they want to stay in the team from the shores of the Neva for the next season. Later, they themselves started the possibility of obtaining a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
In the current season of the Russian Premier League (RPL), Malcolm has attended 20 meetings, where he has managed to score 16 goals and provide 5 assists. Claudinho has scored 3 goals and provided 5 assists in 16 games this season.
CSKA defender Mario Fernandez is considered the brightest representative of a naturalized football player in the Russian national team. He played 33 matches for the national team.
formerly known as Claudinho declarationHe started using a Russian passport.