Igor Diveev, a solid defender for Moscow’s CSKA, has explained why he would rather stay in Russia than move to the Spanish league. He says the lure of calm football in Spain clashes with his desire for a more intense, urgent style. He believes every season demands adaptation, including language skills, which he admits are still a hurdle for him. His English is good enough to understand the basics, yet he is honest about not knowing where to begin when it comes to formal language study. He is determined to learn because the ability to communicate well on and off the pitch matters to him, and he wants to keep growing as a player and teammate without compromising his competitive edge.
Diveev joined CSKA on loan from Ufa on February 22, 2019. Later that year, on May 31, CSKA announced that they had exercised the option to buy his contract, signing the defender to a five-year deal that reflected the club’s confidence in his potential and his fit within their defensive system.
Earlier in his CSKA tenure, Diveev faced a serious setback when he sustained a tibia fracture during a Russian Premier League match against Torpedo in September. After medical evaluation, the prognosis indicated a lengthy layoff. The player, represented by his management, indicated that he would be unavailable for league games until after the season resumed. The injury paused his progress, but it did not dampen his determination to return to top form and contribute once fully recovered.
Interest from foreign clubs occasionally surfaced in the press, signaling that Diveev’s performances had drawn attention beyond Russia. This included speculation about broader opportunities and the possibility of testing himself in other leagues. Yet the defender’s focus remained on CSKA, his development, and the responsibilities of contributing to his team’s ambitions.
There were also reports about personal and professional decisions in the early period of his CSKA career, including perceptions of the level of competition and the challenges of facing top teams in Russia. Diveev’s stance emphasized the balance between seeking new challenges and maintaining stability for his growth. He stressed the importance of readiness, both physically and mentally, to compete against elite opponents and to help his team pursue domestic and continental goals.