Krasnodar’s vice president Valery Bubnov has spoken out after remarks from Irakli Gegechkori about Ilzat Akhmetov, the former Krasnodar midfielder who completed a move to Zenit St. Petersburg. Bubnov responded to Gegechkori’s comments, which had been reported by Sports Express, and offered a measured counterpoint to the narrative that arose around Akhmetov’s transfer.
Gegechkori, in an interview with Championship, claimed that his client left Krasnodar because the club failed to honor a prior commitment. Bubnov countered, stating that the number of falsehoods in the interview exceeded reasonable bounds and that the club’s stance toward footballers is not determined by passport status. He explained that Krasnodar already maintains a core group of Russian players who have developed within the club, emphasizing that Akhmetov may have chosen a club where the treatment of Russian players was more favorable.
Bubnov addressed the issue of the contract terms as well. He explained that when Krasnodar first approached Akhmetov, there was silence, followed by a fax indicating a move to Zenit. Akhmetov ultimately departed, not as a regular starter, and Krasnodar expressed gratitude for his time with the team. He noted that Krasnodar extended an offer which did not receive a response at the time.
On the topic of selling a player to Zenit, Bubnov dismissed the notion that there was any pride or strategic intent behind such a move. He argued that the leadership at Krasnodar is consistently in demand on the transfer market and asserted that the club has never routinely sold its top players directly to rivals; such assertions, in his view, are unfounded and foolish.
Akhmetov joined Zenit on January 9. The 26-year-old midfielder’s contract runs through the end of the 2025/26 season with an option to extend for another year. His career in Russia began in 2014 with Rubin Kazan, where he spent four seasons before moving to CSKA for another four years. In 2018, he and his club captured the Russian Super Cup. Akhmetov joined Krasnodar in 2022 after spells elsewhere.
During the current season, Akhmetov has appeared in 21 matches across all competitions for Krasnodar, recording three goals and two assists. In total, he has played 61 games for the Bulls, contributing seven goals and eight assists. The situation surrounding his transfer continues to be a topic of discussion in Russian football circles. Analysts note that the club’s leadership remains in demand in the market, while critics question the optics of player movements between major clubs. In related comments, Glushakov mentioned there would be a training camp with the RPL club as part of ongoing preparations for the new season.