Alexander Volkov, a fighter competing in the Absolute Fighting Championship, shared his perspective on Artem Dzyuba’s move to Lokomotiv. He explained the personal connection: Dzyuba is on good terms with Volkov’s coach, Taras Kiyashko, and the two men are nearly described as close friends. Because of this bond, they often exchange greetings during conversations, a detail Volkov noted with a smile.
Volkov recalled that Lokomotiv had already played a couple of matches and that Taras follows football closely, which means he keeps up with the team’s progress. This understanding naturally extends to Volkov as well, who said that they are rooting for Lokomotiv during this period. The sentiment was shared publicly through a broadcast on Match TV, giving fans a sense of unity among the camp and the club’s supporters.
On February 8, Artem Dzyuba formally signed with Lokomotiv, with the contract running through the end of the season. In the wake of the transfer, a provocative banner appeared near the club’s home stadium directed at Dzyuba. In terms of performance, Dzyuba joined Lokomotiv and played two games in the Russian Cup but did not find the back of the net in those appearances.
Prior to this move, Dzyuba had spent months without a club striker. He had been with Adana Demirspor in Turkey since August of the previous year, but his stint there ended on November 3 when the contract was terminated. Across his time with Adana, he appeared in four matches and did not manage to start in a league game, leaving questions about his form and fit at the club.
Lending context to the situation, former coach Leonid Slutsky addressed the public conversation around Artem Dzyuba, offering insights into the negativity that had surrounded the striker during that period. That explanation contributed to a broader discussion about expectations, pressure, and the realities of player transitions in modern football, as enthusiasts and analysts weighed the factors influencing Dzyuba’s career trajectory and his latest move to Lokomotiv.