A well-connected insider linked to CSKA Moscow has publicly questioned the club’s decision to keep goalkeeper Ilya Pomazun away from first-team training, calling it a gap in long-term planning. The remarks come as speculation grows about how CSKA develops and deploys its goalkeeping options in a highly competitive environment.
According to the insider, the move represents a misstep. Pomazun is 28 years old and deserves every opportunity to contribute. Critics argue that keeping a goalkeeper at that age on the bench while peak years pass could hinder readiness to help the squad when needed. While Pomazun has shown some flaws, CSKA’s leadership appears to have misjudged the situation, reflecting concerns voiced by supporters and analysts who follow the club’s goalkeeping landscape.
On September 13, CSKA Moscow pulled Pomazun from training with the main squad after he signaled openness to a transfer to the city’s rival Spartak. The incident intensified debate over how the club nurtures and utilizes its goalkeeping talent within a setting where margins for error are slim and competition is fierce.
Pomazun rose through CSKA’s youth system and made his senior debut in a match against Rubin on August 6, 2017. During his time with the first team, he has appeared in four official fixtures. Since 2020, he has spent significant periods on loan at other clubs, a path that shaped his growth and exposed him to top-tier football across different tactical contexts.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Pomazun logged 29 appearances for Ural, the club based in Yekaterinburg. In the 2024/25 season, a regular starting role with CSKA did not materialize as the club leaned on seasoned veterans and top-tier keepers in key competitions. Igor Akinfeev and Vladislav Torop were entrusted with critical Russian Cup fixtures, which limited Pomazun’s chances with the main squad. Yet, on September 12, CSKA included Pomazun in the season squad, signaling an ongoing role within the broader team structure.
These developments fit into ongoing questions about CSKA’s goalkeeper rotation and long-term planning. The club’s preference for familiar faces while evaluating rising talents has sparked debate among supporters and pundits alike. The situation underscores the balance between cultivating homegrown players and delivering immediate results in a league that prizes depth and reliability in the goalkeeping position.
Historically, Pomazun has been viewed as a dependable option with potential to grow into a regular first-team presence, provided the squad builds a defensive and midfield framework that supports his strengths. Observers emphasize the need for a stable environment where a young keeper can refine positioning, reflexes, and game-reading under pressure. The dynamic between loan experiences and eventual breakthroughs with CSKA remains a common pathway for goalkeepers pursuing top-level success, and Pomazun’s career path mirrors that pattern.
Analysts suggest that this season could mark a turning point if CSKA moves to streamline competition among goalkeepers and offer Pomazun more frequent opportunities in league play and cup ties. The response from club leadership, players, and supporters will likely influence his next steps, whether within CSKA’s system or elsewhere in the Russian Premier League. Credit: CSKA Moscow coverage.