Renowned football manager Alexei Safonov has publicly argued that many Russian players hold second citizenships, a factor he believes helps them attract opportunities with European clubs. He also commented on the influence of perceived ratings in betting company assessments on player mobility.
Safonov suggested that in some markets a Russian player is viewed more cautiously by clubs. He cited examples of players who have previously represented Russia but now carry alternative passports. Zaharyan, for instance, holds Armenian citizenship, while Sazonov has a Georgian passport. Safonov anticipated that the next Russian-born player to depart the domestic league would be Spertsyan, who represents Armenia on the international stage. He added that once the political climate stabilizes, Tyukavin might follow a similar path, seeking opportunities abroad.
In the recent transfer window, two Dynamo players moved to European teams. The midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, who has been part of the Russian national team setup, joined Real Sociedad in Spain. Earlier, in September 2022, defender Saba Sazonov, who chose to represent Georgia internationally, became a player for Turin in Italy.
Spertsyan, born in Stavropol, joined Krasnodar’s academy in 2010 and broke into the first team in 2018. He later agreed to represent Armenia at the international level in February 2021, earning 17 caps and scoring three goals for the national side.
There has also been commentary from former coach Yuri Semin, who reflected on Turin’s decision to acquire Sazonov from Dynamo and what it signals about the transfer market dynamics for players who hold multiple national identities.
Overall, the trend highlighted by Safonov and supported by recent club moves illustrates how national eligibility and passport considerations can shape careers for players born in Russia and their potential to compete in top European leagues. This dynamic is relevant to clubs assessing talent, agents planning moves, and fans following the evolving landscape of international football talent mobility. Attribution: Safonov’s analysis and subsequent transfer outcomes are reported by multiple football industry observers and corroborated by match-specific transfer data from the period in question.”