UD Ibiza announced the signature for the upcoming season, naming Nikolay Nikolayevich Obolskiy from Russia as a key addition. The club chose a dramatic presentation for social media, including a sequence inspired by a war video game in which soldiers appear to initiate a mission.
Many observers view this move by UD Ibiza as controversial given the ongoing tensions involving Russia and Ukraine. Critics question whether the club should portray such imagery during a period of real-world conflict and the toll it has taken on communities and athletes alike.
Nikolay Nikolayevich Obolskiy, born in Tula in 1997, has appeared for the Ibiza squad as a defender. His career in Russia included time with Dynamo Moscow’s youth setup and stints with clubs such as Sochi and Nizhny Novgorod. He transitioned to CD Barakaldo in the 2020/2021 season, where he scored seven goals in 28 appearances, helping him secure a move to Spain at the age of 23. In the following season he joined Kultur Leonesa, contributing seven goals in one season and nine in another while competing in the Primera Federación. Obolskiy’s journey reflects the typical path of a versatile defender seeking to advance through competitive European leagues and adapt to a new footballing environment in the Iberian Peninsula.