Десякта лучших летних трансферов в РФПЛ
Источник: Russian Football News
First off, click here for our complete Summer 2013 Transfer Table.
Russian clubs spent approximately €283 million this summer, with Dynamo topping the list at €68 million. Anzhi, meanwhile, after selling off 13 players in less than a month, earned more than any other club worldwide – €136 million.
The best transfer stories of the summer, though, no offense to the Top 10, came from 11th-placed Volga Nizhny Novgorod.
In mid June, the club announced it had signed 26-year-old Argentine midfielder Jorge Luis Luna. A solid pick-up, Luna played for San Martin in Argentina’s Primera Division and was expected to be Volga’s first-ever player from that country. But on July 12, a couple of days before the start of the season, the club admitted he’d never arrived in Nizhny Novgorod and that they were looking for an explanation from the Argentine Football Federation.
The trail then went cold in the Russian media, with Luna nowhere to be found on the Volga roster, week after week after week.
Luna apparently forgotten by everyone in Russia, including Volga, a quick Google search showed this week that the midfielder has been playing for another Argentinian club, Estudiantes, since mid July, and that he’s been practicing with the squad since at least July 5.
Volga fans have been deprived of their 1st Argentine.
Not surprisingly, Volga never commented further on the matter, so we’ll probably never know why the promising midfielder got cold feet and refused his transfer to Russia, or if the deal was ever even completed.
But that wasn’t the only odd case this summer in Nizhny Novgorod. While Luna failed to even show up, the manner in which their leading scorer last season departed threw absolutely everyone for a loop.
In 2012/2013, 25-year-old Volga forward Alexey Sapogov was outstanding in his first-ever RPL campaign, bagging eight goals in 21 appearances, including five in his first nine matches.
He gained more notoriety for a bizarre interview in December 2012, when he told a reporter that he had personally delivered a highlight tape to the Juventus team hotel in Donetsk earlier that month, prior to their Champions League encounter with Shakhtar, in hopes of catching manager Antonio Conte’s eye.
Sapogov made a quick impact in the RPL.
He didn’t, and Sapogov scored just two goals in the spring, appearing in six of 11 possible matches. By early June, he announced he would be leaving Nizhny Novgorod and was searching for a new club. The club said it wouldn’t stop him and a step up in the Russian league or move abroad seemed certain. But the window swung shut on Monday and Sapogov, who’d been training apart from the team all summer, hadn’t gone anywhere.
Just two days later, this Wednesday, Sapogov shocked Russian football by announcing his retirement, complaining that Volga had prevented him from leaving, despite reported interest from Spanish clubs, and that people like him weren’t welcome in the sport. Volga retorted that Sapogov had lost the team’s respect with his behavior over the months and that, furthermore, there hadn’t even been any offers for his services.
One ghost signing, one shocking retirement – and for all that Volga are hanging around in 11th place, with a couple of wins and several solid moves on the final day of the window.
Now for my Top 10 transfers:
10. Andreas Granqvist, Krasnodar (Center Back)
Signed for €5m from Genoa, the 28-year-old Swede is one of Sergey Galitsky’s priciest purchases yet. He has 32 international caps and has already played 529 minutes for his nation in World Cup 2014 qualifying.
Krasnodar’s greatest weakness last season was a porous defense. Granqvist’s arrival, at the peak of his career, could be the final piece Oleg Kononov needs to push Krasnodar into contention for European football.
9. Cristian Ansaldi, Zenit (Left Back)
Just 26, Ansaldi spent more than five years with Rubin Kazan, winning two Premier League titles and earning recognition as one of the league’s top left backs.
He left Kazan on good terms this August, joining Zenit for €6m, where he managed to score in his debut against Anzhi. While Ansaldi will need to earn his playing time when Domenico Criscito returns from injury, he already provides Zenit with necessary depth, as it looks to juggle Champions League and Premier League competition.
A proven winner with a wealth of experience in Russia, Ansaldi fits in perfectly with Zenit’s plans.
Ansaldi has been sharp early at Zenit.
8. Lorenzo Melgarejo, Kuban (Left Back)
Melgarejo is one of the wild cards on this list. Signed for €6m from Benfica on the last day of the window, he struggled last season playing at left back, after an outstanding campaign the year before as a left winger for Pacos de Ferreira.
The biggest question now is where Kuban plan to deploy their 22-year-old Paraguayan international. Kuban’s defense is sturdy, which is why returning him to the left wing could be a fantastic move for Kuban, who need more punch up front if they’re to advance in the Europa League.
7. Andriy Voronin, Dynamo (Forward)
Voronin left Dynamo last summer after clashing with then-head coach Sergei Silkin, joining Fortuna Dusseldorf on loan. He appeared in only 10 matches in Germany, enduring a “miserable time” in his own words, and didn’t think twice about returning to Moscow this season, with Dan Petrescu the new man in charge at Dynamo.
The 34-year-old Voronin scored in the club’s first three games and will likely be used as a valuable weapon off the bench. More importantly, he’s a veteran who can command respect in the locker room, which Dynamo needs as it looks to integrate half a dozen Anzhi signings and push for a top-3 league finish.
6. Vitinho, CSKA (Forward)
Vitinho comes to Russia via Brazilian club Botafogo, signing for €10 million. Just 19 years old, he was also being pursued by Porto and Galatasaray.
The forward/attacking midfielder is hailed as one of the Brazil’s brightest young talents, with the potential to earn a place on the national team in a few years. At CSKA, he’s looking to repeat Vagner Love’s trajectory, who was just 20 when arrived in Moscow, then went on to score 85 goals for the club and earn 21 international caps.
And though the transition to Russia may be difficult, Vitinho has joined the club best equipped to help him make that transition, with its history of developing young talent, excellent team chemistry and plenty of opportunities for playing time, between the Champions League, Premier League and Russian Cup.
High expectations accompany CSKA’s latest Brazilian starlet.
5. Yuri Zhirkov, Dynamo (Left Midfield)
The injury-prone Zhirkov has been out since the Russia – Portugal match on June 6, which makes his selection a bit risky, but if he can get and stay healthy, he’ll be a huge boost to Dynamo’s hopes of finishing in the top 3 or better.
He remains one of the league’s top left midfielders, regaining his place in Russia’s starting XI last spring. Working together with Cristian Noboa and Balazs Dzsudzsak in midfield, Zhirkov could help Dynamo’s suddenly potent attacking corps (Voronin, Kokorin, Kuranyi, Smolov, Dyadyun) become one of Russia’s most prolific.
*Zhirkov joined Dynamo for €20 million from Anzhi.
4. Denis Glushakov, Spartak (Central Midfield)
Glushakov was the crown jewel in a series of solid midfield signings this summer for Spartak, joining the Red and White from Lokomotiv for €8.3 million. His arrival, in addition to weakening the Railwaymen and preventing a move north to St. Petersburg, has been crucial in allowing manager Valery Karpin to transition from a 4-2-3-1 to the more dynamic 4-3-3.
That move paid dividends early, as Spartak cruised to the top of the table with three wins in three matches and provided a tantalizing glimpse of the force Spartak’s new midfield can become, led by the former Loko man.
The 26-year-old Glushakov is physical, with an ability to both anchor the midfield and distribute the ball throughout the pitch. And while Spartak have struggled in recent weeks, due to major holes in the back line, he’ll be vital in facilitating the team’s offense going forward.
3. Mbark Boussoufa, Lokomotiv (Attacking Midfield)
Another Anzhi departure, €15 million Boussoufa has been nothing short of sensational in two matches for Lokomotiv. He’d hardly touched the ball early this season for Anzhi, but under Leonid Kuchuk, the 29-year-old Moroccan is once again at the center of attack, finding seams for teammates Maicon, Caicedo, Samedov and others, in addition to shooting himself, when given the opportunity.
Lokomotiv have struggled to accomplish anything meaningful in recent years, but Boussoufa’s fortuitous arrival means they’re now dangerous against any opponent and, alongside Spartak and Dynamo, could challenge CSKA and Zenit’s current hold on the Champions League places.
Can Boussoufa help Loko regain elite status?
2. Artem Dzyuba, Rostov (Forward)
The big, bruising 25 year old, on loan from Spartak, leads the league with seven goals in seven games and has regained Fabio Capello’s attention, though left out of the Russia squad this September.
Dzyuba has been outstanding in finishing his chances (including 3-3 on penalties), and has shown competitive fire, constantly barking at teammates and helping out on defense.
And while he can be shut down at times by powerful center backs, such as Dynamo’s Douglas and Lokomotiv’s Vedran Corluka in recent weeks, he’s not entirely to blame, as Rostov’s modest budget means there are few other legitimate threats to deflect attention.
Most impressively, Dzyuba’s made the club relevant. His brilliant start, six goals and an assist in four matches, boosted confidence and gave Miodrag Bozhovic’s men an unexpected stint early on at the top of the table.
1. Yuri Lodygin, Zenit (Goalkeeper)
Expected to do little more than keep Vyacheslav Malafeev’s place warm, while the former Russia #1 recovered from injury, 23-year-old Lodygin has won Zenit fans over in a flash, thanks to outstanding goalkeeping that ranks him in the league’s top 3 so far this season. He even earned August player-of-the-month honors in voting on the club website, beating out Danny and Roman Shirokov.
Lodygin moved to Zenit from Greek club Xanthi, where he began his professional career. Also possessing Greek citizenship, Yuri has already turned down multiple offers to join their national team, fully intent on cracking Russia’s squad.
And with his transfer reported at just €900,000, Lodygin has to be the steal of the summer. Champions League competition and Malafeev’s return to health will be major challenges, but if he can maintain his current level of performance, Zenit may well have found its starting goalkeeper for years to come.
All eyes are on you, Yuri.
