Former Russian national team striker Artem Dzyuba parts ways with Zenit
Former Russian forward Vladimir Bystrov recently offered his perspective on Artem Dzyuba leaving Zenit. His remarks appeared in Sports Weekend, reflecting on the club’s decision and the broader implications for the squad. Bystrov noted that Zenit publicly expressed gratitude to Dzyuba and began shaping a renewed roster. The central question, according to him, was what kind of contract the club would offer and how large a salary he might demand. Bystrov added that Dzyuba is not getting younger, and Zenit has shown a tendency to play at a considerably higher tempo without him. In his view, this shift influenced the club to part ways.
On May 22, Zenit confirmed that Dzyuba would not renew his contract as his term with the club expired this season. The decision came as the two sides opted not to extend the agreement, allowing Dzyuba to explore opportunities elsewhere. The 33 year old striker had been a key figure for Zenit since joining the club in 2015. Across his tenure, he appeared in 249 games for Zenit, scoring 108 goals and providing 70 assists. Notably, he helped Zenit lift the league title in the 2021/22 season, marking the fourth league triumph of his time with the club.
Earlier, former USSR national team goalkeeper Anzor Kavazashvili weighed in on another transfer linked to Zenit context. Kavazashvili commented on the move of midfielder Zelimkhan Bakaev from Spartak to Zenit and reflected on Dzyuba’s impact at the St. Petersburg club. The discussion highlighted the evolving composition of Zenit and the evolving role of Dzyuba within the squad’s dynamics.