In a candid exchange, football commentator and journalist Nobel Arustamyan recalled his conversations with Artem Dzyuba, the striker for Lokomotiv Moscow. The veteran reporter shared the backstory of how the interview came to be and what it reveals about Dzyuba’s character and commitments, as reported by Sports Express.
Arustamyan asked what new elements had emerged in his impression of Dzyuba. He answered that Dzyuba is a man of his word. The journalist recounted a moment from Dzyuba’s time in Turkey, where an interview request was made. Dzyuba replied through his representative with a firm no, inviting the journalist to come when he had some downtime to relax and reflect. The hesitation underscored a preference for privacy and timing that the player values.
The narrative continued with a period when Dzyuba unexpectedly returned to Russia. Arustamyan reached out again to the player’s agent, Leonid Goldman, who explained that the moment for interviews had not yet arrived because the team was in the midst of seeking new opportunities. This update dampened the reporter’s expectations, making the eventual interview feel increasingly uncertain.
Yet fate shifted once more. After signing with Lokomotiv, Dzyuba and Goldman reconnected. Goldman conveyed that Dzyuba remembered the journalist and would honor a commitment to speak with Lokomotiv once he reached Dubai. Arustamyan described this turn as exceptionally decent and professionally handled, a reflection of Dzyuba’s reliability and the professional standards surrounding his career moves.
Last season, Dzyuba entered into a contract with Lokomotiv, and soon after, both parties extended the agreement under a different framework that allowed for flexibility in upcoming seasons. The arrangement underscored the club’s confidence in the player’s continued impact and his willingness to align with the club’s strategic plans.
In the current campaign, Dzyuba has appeared in 16 Russian Premier League matches and four National Cup fixtures, contributing four goals and three assists. His performances have provided Lokomotiv with crucial offensive options and heightened the team’s competitive edge across domestic competitions.
heading into the season restart, Lokomotiv sits in fourth place with 31 points, while Krasnodar leads with 38 points and Zenit Saint Petersburg follows closely with 36. The standings illustrate a tightly packed race at the top of the table, where every match carries significant weight for those aiming to secure European spots and domestic silverware.
Previously, debates and tensions surfaced within Spartak, centered on a dispute between coach Abascal and player Amaral — a reminder that the club environment can be as dynamic and unpredictable as the actions on the field, shaping narratives around leadership, strategy, and performance across Russian football.