The head coach of Rostov and the Russian national team, Valery Karpin, spoke on his YouTube channel about the future of goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. He hinted that France might skip calling Safonov to the national squad if his playing time at PSG remains limited, underscoring the practical side of selection based on regular match action.
Karpin emphasized a candid approach: “Maybe I won’t do it, this is football. Let it grow.” He also questioned whether the national team’s technical staff had discussed Safonov’s potential transfer with the players involved, noting that one party had engaged in talks while he personally had not. These remarks reflect the often fluid nature of national-team planning, where club form can heavily influence call-ups.
The transfer saga around Safonov gained momentum in late May, with reports first surfacing on May 22 about Krasnodar and PSG nearing an agreement. A subsequent update on May 25 from RB Sport claimed that the clubs had indeed reached a deal. According to the source, Safonov would undergo a medical check in the near term and then sign a five-year contract with PSG. The proposed transfer fee was reported at 20 million euros, payable in installments, a structure common in big moves that helps clubs manage financial planning and amortize costs over time.
In the previous season, the 25-year-old Safonov appeared in 30 matches for Krasnodar, conceding 27 goals while recording 11 clean sheets. His trajectory from Krasnodar’s youth system to the first team underlines his development-driven path, highlighting the club’s reputation for producing goalkeeping talent. These performances helped attract interest from a top European club and positioned Safonov as a noteworthy option for teams seeking a reliable stopper with both reflexive saves and good positional sense.
PSG’s success in France during the 2023/24 season adds another layer to the discussion. With the club continuing to compete for domestic titles and European glory, any decision about Safonov’s role would be tied to the club’s broader goal of maintaining depth and competition in the goalkeeping department. The potential move also echoes a broader trend of Ligue 1 clubs pursuing young, capable keepers who can develop within high-pressure environments and provide long-term value.
From Krasnodar’s perspective, Safonov’s possible departure would represent a significant transfer, both financially and in terms of the squad’s immediate goalkeeping options. For the Russian national team, the decision would hinge on balancing the benefits of regular playing time for Safonov with the tactical considerations of selecting a goalkeeper who fits the team’s style and competition schedule. The discussions around his future illustrate how national teams monitor players abroad, weighing exposure to top-tier leagues against the need for continuity and performance evaluation on the international stage. The evolving situation will likely continue to unfold as medical assessments are completed, contracts are formalized, and PSG finalizes its strategic plan for the goalkeeper position in the upcoming seasons. At every step, the actors involved—club executives, coaches, and Safonov himself—will be assessing not only current form but long-term development trajectories and the implications for national-team duties.
This narrative underscores how transfers can intersect with national-team planning, affecting call-up decisions, training camps, and tactical preparation. Stakeholders in both Krasnodar and PSG will be watching Safonov’s adaptation to a new league, the level of competition for starting duties, and how these factors influence his readiness for international duty if selected. In the end, the outcome of these negotiations and decisions may redefine Safonov’s career path and his role with the Russian national team in the near future, subject to fitness, form, and the evolving strategic aims of his clubs and country.