A former member of Russia’s national squad and a former coach of Espanyol recently shared his assessment of the country’s talent pool for top European leagues. He estimated that roughly 15 to 20 Russian players possess the quality to compete in La Liga, pointing out that interest from Spanish clubs would likely be directed at mid‑ranking outfits or those lower in the standings rather than the elite teams.
According to his view, the players most likely to attract scouts include those who were part of Russia’s under‑25 setup. Yet, given the current conditions, it is remarkable that one standout talent such as Zakharyan has departed. The expert emphasized another hurdle: Russian players have faced limited progress due to the absence of national team fixtures and European competition, which reduces exposure and competitive pressure needed for development.
In August, the transfer window saw Arsen Zakharyan move from Dynamo Moscow to Real Sociedad on a five‑year contract. During the season, he appeared in 14 matches across all competitions for the Spanish club, though his impact on results looked uneven and was a topic of discussion among observers and fans alike.
Historically, a broader suspension followed the decision by FIFA and UEFA in spring 2022 to exclude the Russian national team and its clubs from all sanctioned events. Since that moment, Russian teams have participated only in friendly matches, a situation that has shaped the trajectory of several players and the way European scouts evaluate talent from the country.
There was also a note about Rostov, which managed to play a draw in a Russian Premier League match without involvement from Karpin, reflecting ongoing narratives around club‑level performances and leadership during continuing changes within Russian football.