Donetsk Shakhtar has terminated the contract of young footballer Oleksandr Rosputko, according to the club’s official communications. The decision followed his absence from the team’s location and reports that he refused to fulfill contractual duties, prompting formal action by the club. The situation unfolded after Rostputko, a 19-year-old prospect, failed to return home from a UEFA Youth League match against Antwerp, leaving behind only his neatly abandoned jersey at the airport. There were claims that he erased all social media posts and stopped answering phone calls, fueling speculation that he fled to Russia and sought political asylum, as reported by the Brutal Football Telegram channel.
Rosputko had recently signed a five-year deal with Shakhtar and had been part of the Ukrainian youth national setup, appearing in four matches without scoring. The club’s statements described the case as a runaway scenario, highlighting unilateral departure and breach of team obligations as the central issues. The unfolding events have drawn attention from Ukrainian football circles and a broader international audience that follows transfers, player movements, and contract disputes.
Observers note that changes involving young players can disrupt academy plans, development programs, and the broader calendar of national and club fixtures. The case also raises questions about how clubs publicly document contract terminations and how media outlets relay developing details as information evolves from multiple sources. The narrative around Rosputko illustrates the complexities surrounding youth talent, club commitments, and the interpretation of contract breaches in modern football, with ongoing coverage from various outlets including the referenced Telegram channel.