Former Spartak Moscow defender and midfielder Soslan Gatagov offered a thoughtful comparison of Alexander Kokorin, the Cypriot league’s Aris striker, with two young Russian talents rising through the domestic scene: Sergei Pinyaev of Lokomotiv Moscow and Arsen Zakharyan, who plies his trade in Moscow’s Dynamo system. Gatagov’s assessment arrived in a recent discussion on the YouTube channel GLOBAL Production, where he shared his take on how Kokorin’s talent stacks up in today’s football climate.
Gatagov suggested that if Kokorin were making his debut in the current football environment in Russia, observers might be inclined to call him a breakthrough phenomenon in the same breath they use for Zakharyan today. He acknowledged, however, that Kokorin’s potential and abilities sit on a different plane from those young stars, even when comparing him to someone like Pinyaev, who has also shown flashes of extraordinary talent. The veteran player emphasized that Kokorin’s ceiling remains higher, while also recognizing how the tempo and context of the modern game shape tone, expectations, and public perception around rising players.
Kokorin is a product of the Dynamo Moscow academy, which has long served as a pipeline for talent into top Russian clubs. Over the years, he also wore the shirts of major clubs in Russia, including Zenit Saint Petersburg, Sochi, and Spartak Moscow, experiences that helped mold his development and sharpen his sense of big-stage football. The breadth of his club career has contributed to a deep understanding of the competitive landscape in Russian football, from youth leagues to the highest national levels.
After a move abroad, Kokorin joined Fiorentina in Italy, a stint that proved challenging. He appeared in 11 Serie A matches for Fiorentina but did not register a goal or assist, a period that highlighted the difficulties players can encounter when transitioning to a new league with its own tempo and tactical demands. In September 2022, Kokorin was sent on loan to Aris, the Cypriot club competing in the Greek football ecosystem through the 2022/2023 season. During that loan spell, he has made 23 appearances for Aris, scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists, numbers that underscored his ability to influence games at a high level and contribute directly to his team’s offensive output.
As for his contractual status, Kokorin’s deal with Fiorentina was set to run through June 30, 2024, reflecting Fiorentina’s long-term investment in his potential and the club’s willingness to explore his fit within their plans. The situation has attracted attention from Aris’ side as well, with updates indicating that the Cypriot club’s press service acknowledged discussions with Fiorentina about Kokorin’s transfer fee, signaling a potential return or continuation of negotiations that could shape Kokorin’s professional trajectory in the near future.