"In Florence, they won't be allowed to play slipshod": what is known about the possible transfer of Kokorin from "Spartak" to "Fiorentina"

"There is interest from Fiorentina to Kokorin"

Information that Fiorentina is interested in the acquisition of Alexander Kokorin appeared on the website of journalist Gianluca Di Marzio on Tuesday evening.

According to him, the management of the Italian club intends to strengthen the line of attack of the team until the transfer window closes and considers the striker of Spartak, who is known in the country for working with Fabio Capello and Roberto Mancini, as the main goal.

On Wednesday, the reporter said that the Florentines are close to buying a Russian and are ready to pay € 5 million for him.

Rumors about Kokorin's possible departure for Serie A appeared in the media before, but for the first time in a long time, Spartak confirmed the fact of negotiations.

The corresponding statement was made by the head of the department of red-and-white public relations Anton Fetisov.

“There is interest from Fiorentina to Kokorin.

Clubs are negotiating.

No official offer has been received yet, "Sport Express quotes Fetisov.

Almost immediately, the well-known Russian journalist Nobel Arustamyan spoke on the Telegram channel about the details of a possible deal.

According to the insider, the parties reached an agreement in principle, and Fiorentina is waiting for a response from the player within 24 hours.

He confirmed that the transfer amount could be € 5 million, but at the same time noted that Kokorin would have to go for a serious salary cut - from € 3 to € 1.7 million.

Another Italian journalist, Nicolo Schira, also confirmed this information.

He said that € 4.5 million would be paid for the striker, and he himself would be offered a three-year contract.

According to rumors, the striker himself is interested in changing the club.

“The negotiation process is underway.

There is an interest of all three parties in its successful outcome ”, - quotes the“ Championship ”the words of a source familiar with the situation.

Alexander #Kokorin is getting closer to #Fiorentina from #SpartakMoskva for € 4.5M.

Now Fiorentina are working to reach an agreement with the player for 3-years contract.

# transfers @ violanews

- Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) January 20, 2021

Ideal for everyone

The transfer can really benefit all of its participants.

Kokorin has not yet managed to truly prove himself in Spartak.

As part of the red and white, he spent ten matches in all tournaments, in which he scored only two goals, both from the penalty spot.

At the same time, due to various injuries, the striker missed meetings with his former teams Sochi and Zenit, which is why the fans assumed that the management followed Alexander's lead when concluding the contract, leaving the corresponding clause in the contract.

Apparently, the relationship between the football player and the club also cracked.

At the end of December, information even appeared that the management of Spartak was forcing Kokorin to train individually until the end of the year, despite the tear of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh.

At the same time, there were rumors about the forward's transfer to Sochi, Rostov, Rubin, and even moving to the USA or Italy.

Nevertheless, on January 9, the athlete's agent Timofey Berdyshev said that his client was not going to change the team. 

“Spartak is probably aware of whether there were any proposals from the Italian teams or someone showed interest.

We didn't look at it.

Sasha wants to play for the red and white and is not going to go anywhere.

He came here to play, to show his best football, to win the championship title.

We are not interested in other options.

If only Spartak itself is ready to consider some proposal, and they come to us, then we will all think together, "the agent said in an interview with Sport-Express.   

Obviously, it will not be easy for Kokorin to play in the spring in the capital's team.

The main strikers of the red and white are Ezequiel Ponce and Jordan Larsson, who have scored 16 goals for two in the current RPL season.

Due to the high performance of the legionnaires, even Alexander Sobolev, who scored five times, is forced to remain on the bench.

Thus, if Kokorin hits the base, it will only be in the non-native position of the attacking midfielder.

Moving to Fiorentina is the last chance to restart his career.

Plus, in March, Alexander will turn 30 and he will most likely not have another opportunity to try his hand in Europe.

The footballer has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to play in a strong championship, but information about his transfer to a particular club, as a rule, remained only at the level of rumors.

This time the transfer is quite real.

"Spartak" will have the opportunity not only to facilitate the payroll, but also to make money on the striker, whose arrival did not justify itself in any way.

Moreover, the club initially emphasized that they are ready to negotiate for Alexander if there is a proposal from a strong European championship.

For Fiorentina, Kokorin can become a kind of joker.

In recent years, the team does not shine: in the 2018/19 season, it almost left Serie A, taking 16th place, a year later - 10th, and this year it is located in the immediate vicinity of the relegation zone.

After a crushing defeat from Napoli with a score of 0: 6, Violets dropped to 14th place.

At the same time, Cesare Prandelli's charges are experiencing big problems in attack.

In 18 league matches, she scored only 18 goals.

Only Parma footballers differed less often (14).

The team clearly lacks an effective striker.

Top scorer Dusan Vlahovic hit the rivals' goal only six times.

And on the account of the second striker Christian Kuame, whom the club acquired last year from Genoa for € 11 million, only two goals.

At the same time, according to the Italian media, Lokomotiv and Zenit are interested in him.

However, the Ivorian acted so unconvincingly that Prandelli, after joining the team in November, put him on the bench and switched to the game with one striker - Vlahovic.

He is sometimes paired with the veteran Franck Ribery.

Perhaps, in the event of a successful conclusion of the negotiations, the coaching staff will bet on the duet of the Serb and the Russian.

Forwards could perfectly complement each other.

The 190-centimeter Dusan is a typical “pillar” that fights well on the “second floor” and throws off balls to oncoming partners.

Fast Kokorin, who has not yet lost his signature speed, will be able to act in his favorite way - to break into free zones and strike.

Perhaps, Alexander has not had such a suitable teammate since the days of Zenit, where he famously interacted with Artyom Dzyuba.

"His second football life may begin in Italy"

Experts interviewed by RT believe that the attacker should leave for Italy.

In particular, such advice to Kokorin was given by his former Dynamo partner and now coach Dmitry Khokhlov.

“If he does not play in Russia and does not see any prospects for himself here, then, probably, something needs to be changed, his career should be reset.

I would definitely advise him to try himself in Europe.

If you do not do this now, then there may not be such a chance.

Yes, in March Alexander will turn 30, but this is not a critical age.

He may well spend several more seasons at a high level.

And I don't see any problems in adaptation.

If desired, the language can be learned in two to three months.

And Sasha is a sociable and open-minded guy, so it will be easy for him to get along with new teammates, ”Khokhlov suggested.

Moreover, the specialist said that from a young age Kokorin thought about moving to a strong European championship.

“I think any footballer has this intention.

Another thing is that not everyone succeeds in leaving.

Each player sets priorities for himself.

But Kokorin had, if not a dream, then a desire to try himself in a strong European championship, "Khokhlov added.

In turn, the former Russian national team midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis, who spent two seasons in Fiorentina, also advised the Spartak forward to try his hand at Serie A.

“His second football life may begin in Italy.

Alexander will have the opportunity to prove that he remains a popular player.

And he is really a great master.

Maybe after all the unpleasant events he went through, he should go to Serie A and start from scratch, ”the expert explained.

Kanchelskis also spoke about the working conditions at Fiorentina and local fans.

According to him, they truly idolize football, but they are extremely demanding and hot.

“In Florence, playing carelessly will not be allowed.

Self-dedication should be 100%.

There was a case when the silver medalist of the European Championship Stefan Effenberg began to philoner.

He was nearly strangled.

Once you have appeared on the field, give yourself up to the fullest.

All the conditions for playing are there - go out and create.

Yes, Fiorentina is not performing very well in the current season of Serie A, but if Kokorin saves her from relegation, it will become a real hero for the fans.

Who knows, maybe they will erect a bust of Alexander at the stadium, like Gabriel Batistuta once did, ”Kanchelskis added.

Finally, the former midfielder of the Russian national team assured that Alexander should learn Italian relatively quickly and advised him to communicate with his new teammates as much as possible.

“Six months later, I spoke and even somehow gave an interview without the help of an interpreter,” Kanchelskis noted.

In turn, the former striker of "Spartak" Valery Shmarov called the transfer of Kokorin to the team "a failed deal" for the club.

In his opinion, the possible departure of the striker to Italy will not harm the red and white.

“Everyone has ups and downs.

At the moment, Alexander is going through a difficult period.

Look, he practically did not play for Spartak and for six months did not show himself in any way.

I'm not sure that Alexander will be able to win the competition against Ponce, Larsson and Sobolev.

I would definitely call the signing of a contract with Kokorin a failed deal.

Therefore, perhaps he should change something, try to restart his career.

When such a chance is given, it is probably better to leave, ”Shmarov said.