Zenit Saint Petersburg faced an unusual discrepancy as Brazilian midfielder Wendel was not listed in the club’s official application for the 2023/24 Russian Premier League season. The omission surfaced after the submission went live on the league’s site, and it raised questions about how the squad was shaping up ahead of the new campaign.
Meanwhile, Zenit’s own website carried Wendel’s name among the players associated with the squad, creating a noticeable contrast between the club’s internal expectations and the formal roster submitted for the season. The gap signals the fluid nature of squad registration during the transfer window, a period when clubs can finalize additions or departures while the window remains open. Several other Zenit players had already been publicly confirmed for the upcoming term, which heightened interest in how the Brazilian would be categorized in the final list.
After the close of the 2022/23 season, Wendel travelled to Brazil and has not yet returned to Russia. A well-known journalist covering the player reported that a return was anticipated around mid-July, but the plan was postponed due to a family bereavement that necessitated the Brazilian’s extended stay in Rio de Janeiro. The delay disrupted Wendel’s participation in pre-season activities and he missed Zenit’s PARI Premier Cup appearance, a setback noted by fans and pundits alike.
Zenit’s head coach Sergei Semak stated that Wendel was free to explore opportunities with other clubs during the transfer window. Yet the coach clarified that while the midfielder could seek a new destination, there was no definitive message barring a return to Zenit at any point. A respected reporter familiar with team negotiations indicated that Zenit had begun to acknowledge the reality that Wendel could depart during the summer market, adding another layer to the club’s strategic planning for midfield depth.
Wendel has been with Zenit since the autumn of 2020. In the latest season, he appeared in 33 matches across all competitions, contributing nine goals and four assists. Those contributions helped Zenit secure the Russian Premier League title for a fifth consecutive time, underscoring the Brazilian’s impact during his tenure with the team and shaping the club’s domestic success that period.
Former teammates and analysts have weighed in, noting that Zenit’s Brazilian contingent was frequently seen moving with the club’s ambitions in mind. The broader conversation around Wendel’s situation reflects the common reality for clubs juggling international rosters and the nuanced pressures of European football markets during the off-season, including contract statuses, loan considerations, and the pursuit of strategic balance in midfield options.
Throughout this episode, observers have highlighted the tension between public announcements and official rosters, a dynamic that often plays out in the weeks leading up to the new season. Wendel’s path with Zenit has been marked by significant contributions on the field and by the ongoing discussions about his role within the squad during a period of transition and re-evaluation for the club’s European ambitions.