The former player of Zenit, Aleksey Strepetov, shared his thoughts on the summer transfer campaign of the St. Petersburg club in an exclusive interview with Euro-Futbol.ru. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
When asked about the situation with Jerson, he recalled the statements made by Aleksandr Medvedev regarding the player's near transfer to Zenit and his passing of a medical examination. However, he emphasized that it is difficult to make a definitive statement about the transfer until he sees Jerson training at the club's base.
He mentioned that the absence of Jerson on the field does not necessarily mean that the transfer has taken place. He also clarified the rumors circulating among journalists about Al-Nasr club in Saudi Arabia making a more lucrative offer.
He noted that some sources have reported that Jerson has spoken with Zenit and that the club is expecting him. However, he stated that all of this information is being spread through the media.
It was also mentioned that Medvedev disclosed the player's transfer value and spoke about the team's anticipation of his arrival. Interestingly, there are questions about which position Jerson will play at Zenit and how head coach Semak envisions him.
When asked if it would be sufficient for Zenit to buy only one high-level player in the summer, Strepetov gave a moderate response and mentioned that he has heard discussions about Sobolev and the Serbian club Crvena Zvezda. He emphasized that he has no information regarding Sobolev.
He stated that Sobolev's departure to a European club would represent a significant change for Zenit's attacking structure. The team needs to adapt its attacking style to fit Sobolev, and if he moves to Europe, Zenit will return to a game based on Brazilian players.
Currently, the team has strengthened with the new player Vega, but it is interesting to see which position he will play. This is because the left-back Santos is currently the team captain.
Semak needs to make decisions about who to add to the team, but first, someone must leave. He spoke about the surplus of players in the club and how this does not benefit the team.
The right-back Volkov is currently not at full strength and should be loaned out. It is also difficult to place high hopes on the young players for the team at this time.
It is not yet evident that they will reach the level of the team's leaders. Zenit's squad looks strong, but in football, it is not just names that matter, but team play is crucial.
When asked again about Sobolev, he said that his departure would simplify the game. Sobolev cannot play the complex style typical of Brazilian football well.
If he leaves, the team will return to a more traditional style of play. Sobolev could elevate his level by playing in Europe.
This would be a significant step for him, as the team participates in the Champions League. He is also expected to go to a Serbian club as a strong player.
He mentioned that Sobolev's playing style fits Crvena Zvezda well. At the end of the interview, Aleksey Strepetov stated that he would continue to closely monitor Zenit's summer transfer policy.
He emphasized the need for clear decisions regarding important aspects for the club and the positions of the players. He also mentioned that the team needs to work on balancing and strengthening the squad.
Interview author Elena Grigoryevskaya.
