Andrey Kirilenko holds negotiations with Spartak St. Petersburg

Sports director of Spartak St. Petersburg Alexey Karvanen has confirmed the reports claiming that the Russian club are in negotiations with the former Utah Jazz forward Andrey Kirilenko, who became free agent this summer. However, Karvanen denied speculations that Kirilenko should replace Serbian center Petar Popovic, who left Spartak recently.

«I wouldn’t like to make any comments on the matter of Andrey Kirilenko. Our club does hold negotiations with his agent. It’s hard to tell what will be their outcome.

«Andrey Kirilenko is something extraordinary, no player can replace him, especially a foreigner. That’s why you can’t say that Kirilenko must replace Popovic,» said Karvanen as quoted by RIA Novosti.

However, Kirilenko himself admitted he may end his career – most probabaly, if case he fails to find a decent club in Europe.

«My agents are now looking for the available options. One day they will bring me the list of teams and I will choose. I’d gladly play in Russia. However, I can only see myself in two clubs – Spartak St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow. If I ever come back, it will be one of them. However, in theory I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that I will end my career as such after the European Championship,» Kirilenko said in his interview with Sport-Express.