Wesley side is not worth 26 million euros.
Sellers know Zenit’s usual weaknesses
As soon as Semak sees a Brazilian on the recruiting list, he can’t help himself. On the right flank of the defense was Mario Fernández. Famous for his performances CSKA the full-back did not play. Injuries and age have taken their toll. They don’t trust Karavaev, they even place central defender Erakovich on the right. The Serbian’s performance did not impress the coaches: they signed Volkov from Krasnodar with a scandal. Sergei was injured and the machine of universalism had to be removed once again. The Brazilian attacking midfielder Mantuan closed the right side, but we see from the latest news that he was a temporary option on an important flank, where people with offensive potential, like the Argentinian Gondu and the Russian Glushenkov, can play more high in the diagram.
The problem for Zenit’s right backs is the team captain. For many years in RPL Douglas Santos has set such standards on the left wing that Semak addresses players of a similar class, so as not to be a bird with one wing and plucked feathers. Most recently, scouts suggested that Sergei Bogdanovich take the Russian player from Lokomotiv again. They came for Silyanov, who during his short career managed to play in different positions, covering both flanks. A national team player can force a fight on the right side. But he certainly cannot be considered the most attacking full-back. Even within Lokomotiv, where Tiknizyan is. Zenit managed to quarrel with this left back during the negotiations.
There is also Samoshnikov, who moved from the defensive flank to the attack. Ilya is unlikely to move to Zenit, as Semak ideally wants to combine toughness and offensive potential. And once again he remembers the old mania. Brazilian clubs often take advantage of Zenit’s interest. No formal request is necessary. Just talking to your player’s agent about the weather allows you to advertise your player later. After all, next to the incredibly expensive Brazilians on the market, there are always football players who serve to raise prices. There is nothing more traditional for a Brazilian agent than taking a player for 9 million euros and selling him for almost triple that price to a rich club outside the top 5.
Young Wesley established himself on the wing last year
The price of young right winger Wesley Vinicius has more than doubled, according to market estimates. Last season in Brazil’s Serie A, Wesley’s club Flamengo came third after Botafogo and Palmeiras. The match was led by the team’s veterans, who are not always able to take the field. Flamengo’s left edge is now covered by Ayrton, a former Spartak player. And Wesley has played quite a bit on the right side in the league. And although the footballer is technical, bright and explosive, experience issues are still visible – the guy is 21 and effective.
In 31 Serie A matches, the player has only two assists. But the guy did a great job on defense. Wesley is very good at wrestling. According to statistics, he can compete with Russian competitors Zenit. And also with those that we can imagine among the Semak players RPL. Handle the ball carefully. And this is an important point, because Zenit persuaded Wendel to come to training camp, although the midfielder with an incredible pass refused. Semak’s Brazilian squad can find another colleague on the right side of the defense. What is the limit?
Douglas Santos now has a passport RF. Awaiting clarification from FIFA. If he is ultimately allowed to play for Karpin’s team, he will be excluded from the list of foreign players. The release of Kazakh Alip also helps. Add Glushenkov and Latyshonok – there are enough local players without Mostovoy on the left edge of the attack. Wesley could end up at Zenit, but we hope we are smart enough not to pay 26 million euros for him. This transfer will be the sixth most expensive in history. RPL. Even Brazilian striker Alberto received less.
Only Malcolm, Hulk, Witsel, Willian and Danny joined Russian clubs for more money. Four transactions from Zenit and one purchase from Anzhi, three of the five are Brazilian. Wesley is growing, but it is profitable for the champions to pay around 15 million euros for a young player so that, if the right-back succeeds, they can move him to the elite league profitably. The success of the Paredes deal is unlikely to be repeated. They paid 23 million euros for the Argentine, did not get a stable base leader, but transferred the midfielder to PSG for 40 million euros.
Brazilians do not solve Zenit’s problems with motivation
It’s not a question of skill. Without Wesley, the Semak team will not be lost. In the spring, if the training goes well, they will be the favorites of the season. A short crisis for Krasnodar and Spartak is enough for the most experienced in the race – the leaders of Zenit – to win the next title. Semak can afford to chat with talented Brazilians in different positions. His team is well known. You can always find an agitator in the person of captain Douglas Santos, who will tell you how well everything is in St. Petersburg and how generous the club’s leaders are.
But it’s time for Zenit to think about things that are not typical for them. First, start selling Brazilians to other clubs. They definitely delayed things with Wendel, Marcus can play in a stronger league, and in RPL he is bored. Secondly, Semak repeated so many times in an interview the main reason for new misses and defeats – low motivation of the players, that the appearance of another young Brazilian in the team is like an attempt to extinguish a fire with kerosene. There will be an effect for a short distance, then Wesley will stop playing.
Zenit, as a club where people leave not only for China and Saudi Arabia, will receive the assets they lack. It’s better to rotate the team and recruit new leaders to replace those who left, rather than keeping players under contract with no spark. Claudinho and Wendel deserved to be left a long time ago because they play with class without total commitment. They light up when they want to interest other clubs. And then everything repeats itself. Semak loses and is offered a new portion of Brazilians. It’s time to stop being tormented.
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