The transfer of 28-year-old Brazilian footballer Jerson to the "Zenit" club has become a significant event. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
Initially, there were speculations that the "Al-Nasr" club would sign the midfielder, but ultimately, this transfer was completed by the St. Petersburg team. Let's examine the reasons behind this.
On Tuesday morning, "Zenit" transferred 25 million euros as compensation to the "Flamengo" club for the player. Why was the choice made for "Zenit" instead of "Al-Nasr"?
Some sources claim that the Saudi Arabian club did not even make an official offer. Therefore, "Al-Nasr" cannot be considered a competitor.
According to other information, Jerson was more inclined towards the Saudi club because the salary there was higher — 8.5 million euros per year, while in St. Petersburg, it was 6 million euros. Over four years, the difference amounts to 10 million euros.
Additionally, Jerson dreamed of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The increased public attention towards the Saudi championship also influenced his choice.
According to other sources, "Zenit" representatives had contacted Jerson before "Al-Nasr." Therefore, the player adhered to the gentleman's agreement and did not break the initial agreement.
If this is true, Jerson deserves respect. Which option was better for Jerson?
If he had to choose between "Zenit" and "Al-Nasr," his goal was to earn more. Other European club options were not considered.
It is difficult to give a definitive answer between the two teams. "Zenit" could have an advantage due to European competitions, but that opportunity is absent.
"Al-Nasr," on the other hand, participates in the Asian Champions League, having more international matches. In the Saudi championship, well-known coaches, such as Indzagi, are also active.
Thus, the Eastern direction also seems attractive. If we compare the Russian and Saudi championships, for now, our championship appears to be stronger.
Will Jerson's move to "Zenit" affect his place in the Brazil national team? Coach Carlo Ancelotti has stated that he will keep an eye on the player and that a call-up will occur if he performs well.
According to him, this is a personal decision and will not affect the national team composition before the World Cup. Of course, some leagues have higher demand than others, but the national team roster is determined solely based on the player's condition.
However, in practice, if the choice is between a player playing in a European championship and Jerson, the preference will be given to the European option. Is Jerson's arrival in Russia beneficial for the national championship?
There are two sides to this issue. On one hand, the arrival of a high-level player is a significant achievement for fans.
Jerson is a member of the Brazil national team. On the other hand, this transfer may reduce competition in the domestic championship.
Currently, the strategy of buying the best Russian players from other RPL teams is not yielding results. Therefore, "Zenit" is trying to strengthen its position by acquiring Brazilian players.
Whether this approach will be successful remains to be seen. Jerson turned down 10 million euros to move to "Zenit."
This is being viewed as a sign of respect for the agreements. At the same time, this decision may help pave the way for him to the Brazil national team.
Others see this as merely a marketing move. In any case, Jerson's arrival represents a novelty and new opportunities for Russian football.
