“This is the last chance to leave for Europe”: Kokorin's ex-coaches about his future, career in the Russian Federation and the interest of Italian clubs

Interest from the “Roma” and the option for “Zenith”

Forward Alexander Kokorin is one of the most talked about Russian football players during the coronavirus pandemic. While the rest of the players try not to lose their form in quarantine, the forward, who has served a prison term, is trying to determine the team in which he will continue his career in the summer.

At the moment, the rights to the pupil of Lokomotiv belong to Zenit, but it is leased to Sochi. At the same time, Kokorin’s contract with Petersburgers expires this summer. This means that Alexander will become a free agent and will be able to sign an agreement with any club.

The footballer himself warms interest in his future. So, in an interview with famous journalist Nobel Arustamyan, he said that he is interested in Italian clubs. At the same time, the footballer admitted that he would still enter the field in a Zenith T-shirt, and admitted that Sochi was counting on keeping it. 

A little later, in a conversation with blogger Eugene Savin, Kokorin spoke in more detail about a possible departure to Italy. According to the champion of Russia, he is interested in “three good clubs,” including Roma, which is in fifth place in the current season in Serie A. But the forward did not confirm the information about Lokomotiv’s interest in him. According to him, his native club did not make contact with him. 

“There are people who are in Italy from me, there is a lot of interest from three clubs. I do not want to call them now, good clubs. It can be very interesting if everything turns out to be true. For me, all three of these teams are top-notch. There is no Juventus. Milan, Inter, Napoli? Something nearby, you guessed right. But I want to go to Roma, it is on this list, ”Kokorin said. 

However, at the same time, the footballer made it clear that, other things being equal, he could choose Zenit. Alexander admitted that if he “speaks well with Petersburgers”, he will remain in the current club, despite interest from the same “Roma”. 

“The return to St. Petersburg depends on the Zenith. I belong to the club by contract. If a new agreement is proposed, and these are good conditions, we will sit down and discuss it with the club. Which option will I choose if Roma and Zenit offer a contract? I still love Petersburg. If we sit down, talk well, then, of course, I will choose Peter. But if we talk badly, then to be in a club like Roma is a big dream, ”Kokorin added. 

In turn, the head coach of St. Petersburg, Sergei Semak, repeatedly emphasized that he still wants to see the striker in the team. For example, the coach recently called him one of the strongest RPL players.  

One can understand the specialist in this situation, because in the summer the term of the agreement with the club will end not only with Kokorin, but also with Artyom Dziuba. And its extension has not yet been officially announced. At the same time, information regularly appears in the media about the possible departure of the captain of the Russian national team to the same Italy.  

Serian Azmun, the Iranian team legionnaire, who allegedly is objectively interested in Napoli, may also go to Serie A. It is reported that the Neapolitans are ready to pay up to € 35 million for the attacker. In such a situation, the extension of the contract with Kokorin could be a real salvation for Zenit and Semak.   

“If he really wants to leave, then this must be done right now.”

To understand what choice a football player can make, RT talked with his former coaches, who worked a lot with Alexander and made a great contribution to his formation as a football player. One of them, Dmitry Khokhlov, not only managed to work with the striker as a specialist, but also played with a very young striker for several years. In his opinion, Kokorin is ready to leave for Europe.  

“Kokorin is a very high level striker. If an offer suits him, he will be quite ready to leave for Europe. There are many rumors about Italy, but it seems to me that the Spanish or English championship would be more suitable for him. In Series A, playing really hard. Many teams there rely primarily on defense. And forwards are much harder to prove themselves. And he’ll get more pleasure speaking in the Premier League or Example, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

At the same time, the coach emphasized that, going to Europe, Alexander does not risk anything at the moment, and delay, on the contrary, can reduce Kokorin’s chances to leave to zero.

“If he really wants to leave, then this must be done right now, since he is already 29 years old. Then it will be too late. Since Kokorin dreams of playing in the top league, we must go to this goal without delay. In principle, I do not see much difference at what age to leave. Everything here is purely individual. Someone can leave at 20 and quickly return. Another will decide one step closer to 30 and build a great career. But, I repeat, in 30-31 they may not even call him, ”Khokhlov stressed.

However, the ex-mentor of Dynamo is also sure that the player will not lose motivation, even if he remains in Russia. According to him, Kokorin "has something to win and what to prove."

"He is an accomplished soccer player for the leading European Championships"

Kokorin also played a lot under the leadership of Sergei Silkin, who led the blue and white in 2011-2012. That “Dynamo” was one of the strongest in the Russian period and for a long time claimed gold in the transitional season of the championship of Russia-2011/12. Kokorin was also a part of the team demonstrating attractive attacking football. Like Khokhlov, Silkin assured that his former ward was completely ready to play in Europe.  

“He is an accomplished soccer player for leading Old World championships. But a lot will depend on which team he gets into. Kokorin talked about Roma, but it’s hard to say how much Italian football is suitable for him. Only time will tell. Football there, of course, is very complex, somewhat intricate in tactical terms. In Italy, forwards are required to realize all those few moments that arise for them, since the level of defenders is extremely high. It seems to me that the championships of France or Spain would be more suitable for Kokorin, ”said Silkin.

At the same time, the coach emphasized that if Kokorin now rejects offers from the leading championships of the Old World, he may miss the last chance to leave for Europe.

“If Kokorin has a desire, why not take a chance? And when will he go to Italy later? At 31? Sports life is very unpredictable. You may be injured tomorrow, and that’s all over. Sasha now has the last chance to leave for Europe. I can’t get into his head. We can only guess which option he will choose for himself, ”added Silkin.

Commented on the rumors around Kokorin and Andrei Kobelev, under whose leadership the striker spent about 50 matches and scored ten goals. The specialist urged first to wait until the end of the coronavirus pandemic, and then to talk about possible options for continuing a career for the striker.

“Well, it's great that Sasha wants to go to Europe! Let's just wait until the moment when he decides everything for himself. I repeat, for Alexander it is now very important to sit down and decide what he wants from his career in the future. But now discussing something, of course, is difficult. You see, everyone is quarantined. It is unclear whether the current season will resume at all, and if so, when. It is difficult to say what condition the players will be in when the championships again decide to launch, if it comes to that. That's when the victory over the coronavirus will be won, then it will be possible to talk about the future of Sasha, ”said Kobelev.