Valery Masalitin weighs in on the talk about Igor Diveev, the CSKA defender, and the whispers linking him to Zenit as his contract with the army club approaches its end. Masalitin believes Diveev would slot into Zenit head coach Sergey Semak’s tactical plan without a hitch. He also suggests the player could benefit from testing his skills in a foreign league to experience different styles of play.
According to Masalitin, Diveev has carved out a reputation as one of the top defenders in the domestic championship. He consistently features for CSKA and earns frequent calls to the national team, underscoring his reliability and steadiness. The veteran central defender is seen as a natural fit within Semak’s system, providing stability at the heart of the back line. While Masalitin acknowledges CSKA’s ongoing negotiations with Diveev and the work the club has invested in his growth, he believes exposure to international competition could add a valuable dimension to the player’s development. He adds that competing abroad would broaden Diveev’s perspective and sharpen his game against a wider range of opponents.
Media outlets have started to focus on Zenit’s interest as Diveev’s current CSKA contract nears expiration in 2024. Diveev’s journey with CSKA began in 2019 following a transfer from Ufa, initially on loan before earning a full contract. The arc of his development at CSKA has been marked by steady progress, with a period disrupted by injury revealing both his resilience and his importance to the squad when fully fit.
The 2022/23 season proved challenging for Diveev. A tibial fracture diagnosed in September 2022 sidelined him for a substantial stretch, curtailing his appearances during the autumn portion of the campaign. After returning to action as the league resumed, he demonstrated perseverance during a difficult spell for both his club and himself.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Bulykin, a former striker for the Russian national team, offered a candid appraisal of Zenit’s standing within Russian football. He suggested that Zenit should not be viewed as the unquestioned hegemon of the national game, highlighting the competitive landscape that continues to shape the league and the ambitions of other clubs as they strive to challenge the balance of power.