Recent reports indicated that defender Mario Fernandez could not reach a salary agreement with Zenit St. Petersburg. The discussions, as cited by Euro-Football.Ru, centered on the business terms of his contract rather than the sporting role Fernandez would play for the club.
According to the source, the core issue that halted the negotiations was the overall package. Fernandez’s camp reportedly sought an annual salary of 2 million euros, while Zenit offered 1.5 million euros per year, with bonuses likely affecting the total compensation. The divergence over pay scales ultimately led to the dissolution of the prospective deal.
In the July 23 edition of RB Sports, it was stated that Fernandez parted ways with Zenit. The decision, described as stemming from concerns about the player’s physical condition, suggested that he would be unable to return to his prior performance level for the blue-white-blue squad. This assessment apparently influenced the club’s stance during the late-stage negotiations.
Zenit officially introduced Mario Fernandez as a team member on July 7, 2023, under a contract structured as a 1+1 deal. Later, on March 23, 2024, Fernandez sustained an injury in a friendly match against Red Star, needing substitution 32 minutes after entering the field. The defender had rejoined the action for the second half, but the injury halted his immediate contribution in that game.
During the prior season, the 33-year-old featured in 18 matches across all competitions but did not score any goals. His role with Zenit had primarily been defensive work and adaptability in various backline positions, with emphasis on experience and leadership within the squad.
Additionally, the Argentina coach had expressed earlier concerns related to the team’s Olympic campaign, including a loss to Morocco at the 2024 Olympic Games, which added context to discussions around squad depth and availability. The situation around Fernandez’s status at Zenit was viewed against the backdrop of ongoing evaluation of domestic and international commitments for players transitioning through the club’s roster.