Vyacheslav Litvinov, a defender for Sochi, announced he would not participate in the European championship. His remarks were shared by sports outlets as a direct quote from the athlete.
He explained that his priority in the winter window was Boavista, and he mentioned interest from clubs in Italy and Germany. Yet he stressed that he had not yet become the player he aspires to be. The defender emphasized the need for steady development and sound reasoning in his career choices.
Litvinov added that a move to Europe often carries the risk of interrupting his current trajectory. He asked who would purchase him if he did not prove his consistency. After careful consideration with his team and his manager, they decided it would be premature to pursue moves abroad. The focus, he said, is to perform reliably before stepping into European competition and to secure a stable period in the Russian Premier League first.
Litvinov is a Krasnodar graduate who made his first-team debut in 2020. He joined Sochi in June 2023. This season, he has played ten matches in the Russian Premier League and has not found the back of the net.
Sochi currently sits at the bottom of the table after thirteen league games, collecting nine points. Krasnodar leads the league with twenty-eight points, followed by Zenit with twenty-six and Krylya Sovetov with twenty-two to round out the top tier.
Earlier reports had highlighted Litvinov as the sole Russian football player active at the European level in discussions about the sport. In his assessment, he remains focused on contributing to his club and developing his form before taking on broader continental opportunities. [citation attribution]