Safonov, a football manager with experience across Russian leagues, offered a thoughtful appraisal of Artem Dziuba’s future as a striker and how market forces might shape his next move. He suggested that Dziuba could remain with Rubin Kazan or decide to step away from professional football altogether. In Safonov’s view, the Russian Premier League remains a demanding arena where players must carefully gauge their value and negotiate accordingly, and Dziuba appears to be weighing that balance with deliberate care. He argues that the striker understands his worth and would likely expect a substantial salary—around 2 to 2.5 million euros per season—if he stays competing at the top level. Yet Safonov does not dismiss the possibility of Dziuba pursuing a short-term stint with the national team for the European Championship, noting that Dziuba has already built a reputation that transcends traditional league rankings. His forecast stresses that a dip or stagnation in performance in the First Division would not dramatically alter the player’s long-term ambitions, since he has already proven a great deal over the years, and in Safonov’s eyes, the stage he targets remains the European stage rather than plateauing in another domestic season. The takeaway is that Dziuba’s career trajectory continues to hinge on a blend of self-valuation, club interest, and national team considerations, rather than a simple loyalty to any single club. Safonov’s analysis reflects a broader truth about veteran strikers in modern football: while talent and past achievements open doors, the final decision often rests on financial terms, contract stability, and the strategic direction of the clubs involved. Source: Safonov interview.
During the 2021/22 campaign, Dziuba delivered a solid tally, finding the net 11 times in 28 appearances, with a penalty contributing to one of those goals. He also supplied seven assists, underscoring his value not only as a scorer but as a creator who can influence matches through link-up play and distribution. This combination of goal-scoring and playmaking has long been a hallmark of his career, reinforcing why some clubs view him as a high-impact addition rather than a mere seasonal reserve. The numbers from that season, while not the peak of his career, demonstrated consistency and the ability to influence outcomes in tight matches, a factor that clubs weigh when considering contract negotiations and squad planning in a competitive league environment. Source: 2021/22 season statistics with Dziuba.
Last season, Dziuba secured a fourth title with Zenit before leaving the club when his contract expired. That departure signaled a turning point, as he entered the market as a seasoned forward with extensive experience in domestic and European competition. Since then, he has remained unattached, with discussions about his next destination continuing to unfold in the public sphere. By mid-July, reports indicated that Dziuba had continued to maintain his fitness at Rubin Kazan, a club that had recently fallen to the First Division after the previous season’s results. This situation highlights the practical realities of a career arc that often includes stretches of uncertainty and adjustments to new competitive tiers. The ongoing scenario raises questions about how a player with a proven track record should navigate relegation and how strategic fit, club ambitions, and salary expectations align for both parties in the long term. Observers noted that several factors could influence his decisions, including the stability of a club’s project, coaching philosophy, and the likelihood of securing a role that leverages his experience on and off the pitch. Source: post-Zenit career developments and Rubin Kazan status update.
Commentary from former executives within the Zenit organization at St. Petersburg, including perspectives once voiced by the club’s leadership, underscored the reality that Dziuba’s chances of quickly securing a new employer could be narrowing. In evaluations shared with the media, there was a sense that the market for a player of his age and wage bracket requires precise alignment between club needs and the financial framework available. This sentiment reflects a broader pattern seen in contemporary football where veteran forwards must balance expectations with market demand, and where the decision loops among agents, clubs, and players can stretch over several weeks or months. The current situation thus becomes a test case for how experienced strikers adapt to evolving competitive landscapes, the economics of contracts in a top-tier league, and the strategic calculus behind choosing between continuing at the highest level or transitioning to roles that emphasize leadership and mentorship within a squad. In this context, Dziuba’s career narrative remains dynamic, with multiple plausible routes that could define his next chapter, depending on how clubs and the player weigh performance history, salary, and personal goals against the backdrop of domestic football’s reform and international aspirations. Source: Zenit executives’ commentary and market analysis.