“Leaving the club with a sense of accomplishment”

Forward Wagner Love in the near future may return to CSKA. This was reported by a RT source in Brazil, close to Corinthians. According to him, the striker made a fundamental decision to go to Russia. The probability of signing a contract with the army team is estimated as almost one hundred percent.

On the eve of Corinthians announced the termination of the contract with a 35-year-old footballer. Wagner thanked the club for its cooperation and stated that it was going to “change the situation”.

“I want to thank Corinthians, God and especially the club management for being able to return here again ... Thanks to everyone who worked hard to bring me back to the club. I was happy to become a champion again. Thank you for all the moments spent at Corinthians, ”the club’s press service quoted Wagner as saying. 

A little later, Wagner turned to fans on Instagram and thanked them for their support. 

“Another stage is over! Thanks to God for making it possible to protect the colors of Corinthians again. Happy every victory with teammates. I leave the club with a sense of accomplishment and wonderful memories. Thank you for all the achievements and for becoming the champion again, ”Wagner wrote on Instagram. 

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Posted by Vagner Love (@oficialvagnerlove) Jun 5, 2020 at 1:00 PDT

The signing of a contract by a football player with CSKA may become known on Monday or Tuesday. This was reported to RT by striker agent Evandro Ferreira. According to him, at the beginning of next week, the Brazilian is going to talk about his future club.

As part of the army, Wagner spent a total of seven years. In 2004, the red and blue acquired the striker from Palmeiras. In 2009, he returned to his native club for six months. In 2010, the forward went on loan to another Brazilian team, Flamengo, and later the club bought his contract. In 2013, Wagner again moved to CSKA, and six months later he left for China.

As part of CSKA, Wagner spent 259 matches in which he scored 124 goals. Together with the Brazilian, the army team won 14 trophies, including the UEFA Cup in 2005. Love is a three-time champion of Russia and a six-time winner of the Cup of the country.

Great PR move of CSKA and partner-legend for Chalov

At first glance, the return of Wagner brings solid advantages for CSKA. Most importantly, it will be a great PR move for the club. The Brazilian army fans have always treated with special warmth. A 20-year-old striker with colorful pigtails immediately fell in love with red-blue fans when he came to Russia and immediately began to score. Forever go down in history and his goal to Sporting in the UEFA Cup final.

In general, CSKA Wagner scored many important goals. He has 124 productive hits on his team in all tournaments. In the list of the club's top scorers, Love is second only to Grigory Fedotov (137). Thus, in case of return to Russia, the forward has a chance to go down in history.

You can be sure that Wagner’s arrival will have a positive effect on the attendance of the red-blue games, when full access to the stadiums will be open. Indeed, for the fans, the Brazilian is a living legend. They associate it with the unforgettable victory of CSKA in the UEFA Cup. Of that team, only Igor Akinfeev remained in the composition.

Despite his age, the 35-year-old striker is quite capable of helping the red and blue on the football field. So, last year he scored nine goals in all tournaments as part of Corinthians and gave three assists. The veteran got into the starting lineup 18 times for the matches of the Brazilian championship and often spent all 90 minutes on the field or left to replace in the very end.

Before returning to Brazil, Wagner defended the colors of one of the best teams in Turkey, Besiktas, although he did not get too much playing time there. But in a more modest “Alanyaspor” forward was a real leader. In the 2016/17 season, he became the top scorer of the Turkish championship with 23 goals, after which he moved to Besiktas. 

CSKA same driving forward is necessary. Currently, there is only one forward in the team roster - Fedor Chalov. However, the Russian in the current season scored only six times. Many attribute the decline in the performance of the graduate of the club academy to the army team with a failed transfer to Crystal Palace.

Next to the experienced Wagner Chalov can open up from a new perspective. At one time, Seyd Doumbia succeeded. Acting in tandem with the Brazilian, the Ivorian became the top scorer of the RPL-2011/12. And young Chalov, thanks to a veteran, can make serious progress.

The appearance of the 35-year-old footballer will have a beneficial effect on the entire young team of CSKA, because the team, according to the acknowledgment of the same Akinfeev, lacks experienced football players. And the presence of the legend of the club, the game of which they admired as a child, will be an excellent incentive for the youth of red and blue. The same Chalov did not hide the fact that Wagner was his idol in childhood, and a poster with an attacker hung on the wall in his room.

Doubtful reinforcement and “record holder for fines”

Despite the obvious pluses, Wagner's return to CSKA has its drawbacks. First of all, we are talking about age. At 35 years old, an attacker may be far from its former form. And working capacity in the best years was not a strong point of Love.

In addition, the Brazilian could never be called an exemplary professional. Often, he arrived at the club’s location later than the deadline and with excess weight. It was no coincidence that the then head coach of the red and blue Valery Gazzaev in his autobiography Way of the Warrior called the striker the record holder for fines. However, an experienced specialist found an approach to the striker.

It will be more difficult for Viktor Goncharenko to do this. Firstly, a Belarusian is only seven years older than Wagner. Secondly, he makes a serious bet on discipline. And if Wagner will work in training without proper returns, the young coach will not tolerate this. In addition, the specialist always requires the wards maximum return on the field, while the Brazilian often turns off the game. It will be difficult for Wagner to give the amount of pressure in the attack that Chalov provides.

It is not easy for the Brazilian to play with Fedor himself, because they are, to some extent, one-sided forwards. Both love to act somewhat in tight guy, collecting rebounds. And if Wagner plays under the attacker, he can duplicate Vlašić, thereby interfering with the Croat.

Finally, the current CSKA is noticeably weaker in composition than CSKA in 2005 and early 2010s. To date, only Vlašić, Akinfeev and Mario Fernandez stand out in the roster of the army. The rest of the players are either lower class or play unstable due to their youth. This is especially true for the line of defense. 

Disappointment at the level of partners can lead to a decline in Wagner’s game, which will affect the attitude of fans to him.

And the signing of the contract with the Brazilian so far looks like a "plugging holes." CSKA are in dire need of a new striker, but due to the difficult financial situation they will be forced to return free Wagner agent. However, due to his age, he will not help a team at a long distance. Also, the Brazilian is unlikely to sell for a lot of money, which runs counter to the strategy of CSKA in recent years.