"He will no longer play in Europe": how the presentation of the "Golden Urn" to Kokorin can affect his future career

"It is not clear what state he is in, including psychology."

Awarding Alexander Kokorin the unofficial title of "Laughing Stock of the Year" seemed to draw the line under his career in Fiorentina.

For a year in Italy, the Russian did not manage to be remembered for anything and with his game only caused bewilderment among local fans, who expected much more from the middle-aged legionnaire acquired for € 4.5 million.

And therefore, the striker's entry into the number of laureates of the "Golden Urn - 2021" comic prize for the worst footballers of the year in the country did not surprise anyone.

Moreover, in his nomination, the forward was the first by a wide margin.

53.21% of the respondents voted for him.

On the second line is Adrien Rabiot from Juventus (22.02%), on the third - Symi from “Salernitana” (9.17%).

Moreover, just a year ago in Russia, Kokorin's transfer to Fiorentina was received with enthusiasm.

Many were surprised by the transfer of an aged athlete who had served a prison term, but there was hope that he would be able to prove himself in one of the strongest championships on the planet.

Unfortunately, in Italy, Alexander did not succeed.

In 2021, he took part in only nine matches in all tournaments.

At the same time, the striker only once appeared on the field in the starting lineup - in the Cup of the country meeting with Serie B “Benevento”.

In other cases, he was content with substitutions.

The Russian did not use his chances.

For example, in the current season of Serie A, he did not score a single shot on goal in four games, even though he got quite a bit of time.

In the previous national championship, the situation was similar.

In the aforementioned match with Benevento, they also failed to distinguish themselves.

Perhaps Kokorin would have been able to reveal himself in Italy, if not for the constant injury.

The athlete did not have time to come to Florence and get in shape, as he received a hip injury.

It put the player out of action for two months.

And in the fall, when the season was gaining momentum, Alexander missed another month and a half due to muscle problems.

As soon as the attacker received a serious load, he was out of action.

Earlier in Spartak, the forward also regularly visited the infirmary, which may indicate a sad trend.

In addition, Kokorin broke up with his girlfriend Daria Valitova, with whom he raised his son together, which could also affect the football player's game.

While the domestic athlete was trying to adapt to life in a new country and cope with various problems, his main competitor felt more and more confident in the struggle for the place of the only central striker of the team, Dusan Vlahovic.

This season, the young Serb has scored 16 goals in 19 Serie A matches and two more in two Italian Cup games.

Finally, he puts an end to Kokorin's prospects in Fiorentina, the lease of Krzysztof Piatek's club from Hertha.

The Pole did not manage to prove himself in the Bundesliga, but quite recently he looked bright in Serie A. At first he almost single-handedly pulled up the modest Genoa, and then went to the promotion to Milan.

There is no doubt that now it is he, and not the Russian who is in bad shape, who will share the playing time with Vlakhovich.

With a high degree of probability, Kokorin will have to return to the RPL in the near future, either on loan or as a free agent, if the Florentines manage to agree with the forward to terminate the contract that is valid until June 2024.

However, in the native championship there is no excitement around the ex-striker of the Russian national team.

At the end of December, Roman Teryushkov, a member of the supervisory board of Khimki fighting for survival, said that Kokorin was on the "shooting list."

However, the other day he said that the team was not interested in the forward.

Other clubs are not yet considering such a reinforcement option.

For example, according to the head coach of Sochi, Vladimir Fedotov, the question of returning a footballer to the team is irrelevant.

“It is difficult to assess at this stage, since Alexander has almost no playing practice.

It is not clear what state he is in, including psychology.

At the moment, we cannot correctly assess the degree of its readiness, ”the specialist emphasized in an interview with Sport24.

Therefore, the appearance of an athlete in one of the exotic championships, for example, in the UAE championship, is not excluded.

Earlier, the Italian media reported that there is interest in the striker, and Fiorentina is ready to lease him out with the need to pay the Russian a part of the salary.

Kokorin's annual salary is allegedly € 1.7 million and is one of the highest in the team.

"It is unlikely that Kokorin will return to the previous level"

To understand what the future holds for the once one of the country's most talented football players and whether he will be able to return to his previous level, RT talked to coaches who themselves played a lot in Europe.

So, the mentor of SKA-Khabarovsk Sergey Yuran believes that the attacker should first of all decide for himself whether he intends to continue his career.

“Kokorin will no longer play not only in Italy, but in Europe in general.

When a foreigner arrives there and looks about nothing, it becomes a decisive factor.

Who in the Old World wants to take Alexander now?

This is not Russia, where issues can be resolved.

They only look at the game there.

This is the difference: in Europe there are professionals, while in our country there are semi-amateurs.

Kokorin had to come to Fiorentina and show his maximum.

Has he forgotten how to play football? "

- the specialist asked.

According to Juran, if the forward understands himself and realizes that he wants to continue playing, then in the RPL he should succeed even in the leading teams.

“Kokorin possesses considerable skill, but the question is in the desire of the person.

Perhaps he just wants to end his career.

Understand, if Alexander had aspiration, he could show himself in Serie A with his talent.

If Kokorin realizes that he really wants to play, it costs him nothing to gain a foothold in the composition of the strongest Russian teams.

For example, he is quite capable of strengthening Zenit.

Alexander is a skilled footballer, and you can see it.

He could not lose everything.

Again, everything comes from the head.

If he does not turn it on, the RPL will not be in demand even among outsiders, ”the coach added.

At the same time, the specialist believes that the return from Italy to Russia can only further relax Kokorin.

“You understand that you have returned and will definitely play.

Plus, of course, there are more temptations in Moscow: friends, comrades, nightlife.

It's hard to concentrate on sports.

When I returned to Spartak, it was also difficult for me to be at the base.

We stopped by there two days before the match and sat there.

In Europe, this was no longer practiced.

But on the other hand, there you understand: if you are not head and shoulders above the rest in training, you will simply stop going out on the field and be left without money.

In Russia, you get everything clearly.

And they will still be put on the roster for one name, ”summed up Juran.

In turn, Igor Kolyvanov, who played in Italy for Foggia and Bologna, named numerous injuries as the main reason for Kokorin's failure at Fiorentina.

“Don't forget that shortly before going to prison, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament rupture.

He recovered, then got into this story.

As a result, Alexander lost almost a year and a half.

When he was hired by Sochi, he played several bright matches on a short stretch and moved to Spartak.

But when serious loads began, he immediately got micro-injuries: now the knee, then the back, then the front, then the ankle.

Whatever he did, he simply did not have time to recover and put his muscles in order.

After 30 years, the body is no longer so fresh.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the striker will return to the previous level, ”the coach complained.

For this reason, it will be difficult for the striker to prove himself even in teams fighting for survival in the Premier League.

“A person practically does not play for 3.5 years, if you do not take a short segment in Sochi.

In the teams of the second half of the RPL standings, Kokorin should be in demand.

But here the main stumbling block can be his high salary.

If only he agrees to lower the financial requirements.

Again, God forbid Alexander will enter the field two or three times and again get injured.

And in the leading clubs of the country, the competition is quite strong, and they rely on young performers.

It will not be easy for Kokorin to prove himself, ”added Kolyvanov.

At the same time, the specialist believes that the footballer did not deserve criticism in his address, since he changed his attitude towards sports and did everything in his power.

“There can be no claims against Kokorin.

He really grabbed his head and was not afraid to leave for Italy.

But the competition there is very high.

If you have had several meetings unsuccessfully, you will sit on the bench for a long time.

Alexander was appreciated, cared for and cherished in our country, and in Serie A there are plenty of people like him.

Alas, everything depends on the attitude to football.

If you behaved incorrectly, sooner or later it will affect.

The same happened with Kokorin, ”the specialist emphasized.