— Were the rumors about negotiations between ‘Rodina’ and Dzyuba that appeared in the media this spring unfounded?
— There were no negotiations with him. Neither on our initiative nor on his side. But I’m not saying we won’t bring anyone in. I’m just explaining that we will approach this matter very carefully and deliberately. No one knows how things will unfold. We need not only a line and strategy but also to remain sensitive to the adjustments that life brings.
But I firmly believe in the footballers currently at ‘Rodina,’ who have endured a huge workload in the First League. They deserve their chance in the RPL.
— Won’t you need stars like Dzyuba to attract an additional audience?
— Do we need a big name to draw fans? Yes, that’s important. No one would turn that down. But in my opinion, there are only two epochal-scale players in the RPL right now – Dzyuba and Akinfeev. I mean those with whom we could theoretically start a conversation.
It’s clear that ‘Rodina’ can’t afford Batrakov at the moment. But it’s very important not to say too much at this point. We need to finish the season, go on vacation, summarize the experience of the past season, and decide whether we need to strengthen and how to strengthen, — Zinin said.
