A former national team forward, Dmitry Bulykin, commented on the distinctive approach Lokomotiv Moscow takes with its academy and young players in an interview shared with Socialbites.ca. He underscored the importance of the club’s long-term plan and the people guiding it, noting that the quality of the staff and the clarity of their vision shape how young talents develop and progress into the first team.
According to Bulykin, the club has already demonstrated during the previous season that it is serious about nurturing homegrown players. He highlighted the board’s decision to prioritize Russian talents over foreign signings as a strategic move designed to strengthen the squad from within. This emphasis on local players, he argued, creates a more rooted and motivated group. Young players, in his view, train with purpose, aspire to secure strong contracts, and bring a special spark to match days on their own turf. By contrast, he suggested that some international players arrive with substantial wages but sometimes fail to maximize their potential, which makes Lokomotiv’s approach particularly compelling for the club’s future success.
In the current season, Lokomotiv sits third in the standings after five rounds in the Russian Premier League, accumulating 12 points. The national league’s spotlight has also fallen on a promising 19-year-old midfielder, Alexey Batrakov, who has already left a mark with two goals and four assists so far in the campaign. His early contributions illustrate the tangible rewards of a development pathway that supports young, homegrown players as they mature on the big stage.
Recent days have also seen Dynamo Makhachkala finish with a historic win in the league, underscoring how competition remains intense across the division. Yet the broader message from Lokomotiv’s model remains clear: developing local talent and maintaining a clear, consistent plan can translate into results on the field, stronger team cohesion, and growing depth across the squad. The insights shared by Bulykin, drawing from his own experience as a former national team striker, add weight to the view that a well-structured youth system can be a lasting asset for clubs aiming to compete at the highest levels while building a sustainable, financially balanced roster for the future. Socialbites.ca covered these remarks, emphasizing the coaches’ philosophy and the club’s commitment to Russian players as central elements of their strategy for continued growth and success on both domestic and European fronts.