Viktor Goncharenko, the head coach of Ural, has publicly stated his desire to retain goalkeeper Ilya Pomazun, whose rights are held by CSKA Moscow. The remarks came through an interview featured by Match TV’s expert panel, reflecting Goncharenko’s clear plan to keep the young keeper within Ural’s squad.
Goncharenko expressed optimism about a swift resolution, indicating that within a day or two the situation surrounding Pomazun would become definitive. He added that once the details are settled, the club would have a firm picture of Pomazun’s future, underscoring how crucial the goalkeeper could be for the team’s plans in the upcoming period. This stance aligns with Ural’s interest in preserving a player who has developed notably during his time with them and is seen as a valuable asset going forward.
The news cycle on June 22, circulating on the Telegram channel run by Ivan Karpov, brought Zenit St. Petersburg into the spotlight as a club expressing interest in Pomazun. At that juncture CSKA Moscow reportedly valued the goalkeeper at around 6 million euros, while Zenit’s preliminary offer hovered near 2 million euros. The evolving talks led to an abrupt change in Zenit’s approach: after CSKA paused negotiations, Zenit reconsidered the potential acquisition and shifted its attention away from Pomazun, instead focusing on the loan arrangement that had brought the player to Ural. The player’s temporary spell with Ural began through a loan deal from Pari N.N. during the 2020 season, and the subsequent 2020/21 campaign saw Pomazun return to Moscow ahead of schedule due to squad injuries, before being sent back to Ural as the season concluded. In the two seasons that followed, Pomazun continued to ply his trade with Ural on loan, under terms that did not include an option to buy, allowing him to develop further while remaining under CSKA’s control.
Pomazun’s background includes emerging from the CSKA Moscow academy, a pathway that has produced several notable goalkeepers over the years. His first major move came on loan to Ural in 2020, which provided him with regular first-team exposure and a platform to showcase his reflexes, distribution, and command of the area. The arrangement reflected a common practice in Russian football, where young talents spend seasons on loan to accumulate experience before a potential return or permanent transfer. While his time with CSKA remained in the background, Pomazun’s performances during loan spells have drawn interest from various clubs and have kept him in the broader conversation about Russia’s next generation of goalkeepers. Reports and statements from former teammates and representatives around the same period highlighted ongoing interest from foreign clubs, signaling that Pomazun’s prospects were being watched beyond the domestic market. This growing attention underscores his potential to become a fixture for a top club if the right opportunity materializes, whether through a further loan arrangement, a permanent move, or a renewal of the existing loan under different terms.