The last few days have been eventful for CSKA fans.
Unfortunately for them, not without sad news.
One after another, two of its old-timers and iconic football players announced their departure from the club: Mario Fernandez and Alan Dzagoev.
Such a decision on their part caused surprise, because the first had a contract until 2024, and the second - until 2023, and it seemed that they would end their careers in the team.
The midfielder was prompted to take this step by the lack of playing practice.
This season, he spent only 22 matches in all tournaments and practically did not get into the base.
According to the general director of the army, the Russians did not like the current state of affairs.
“Recently, Dzaga has been getting little time ... But he is a player of such a magnitude that he should not sit on the bench.
We had a gentleman's agreement, which implies the early departure of Dzagoev in case he plays little.
We wish Alan to get the most out of football.
And after the end of his career, we are waiting for him already in the structure of the club, ”the official website of Muscovites quotes the functionary.
However, there was some positive news as well.
Despite rumors of a possible retirement, Igor Akinfeev extended the agreement until the end of the 2023/24 season.
His departure could be a serious blow to CSKA, because the 36-year-old goalkeeper is still indispensable.
According to the former mentor of the reserve team Alexander Grishin, it is difficult to imagine the team without him.
“The fact that Akinfeev remained is a big plus.
He is the leader of the team, the legend of CSKA, the best goalkeeper of our championship.
The fact that he signed the contract is worth a lot.
If in the case of Dzagoev and Fernandez CSKA lost, then here, of course, they gained.
But there were no special questions about him, everyone knew: Igor would re-sign the contract.
Still, he is a goalkeeper, not a field player, there is a completely different job, ”the specialist said in an interview with RT.
The former coach of the Russian national team Mikhail Gershkovich agreed with him, who also called the veteran the best goalkeeper in the country.
“In my opinion, this is the number one player, despite the age.
He always keeps himself in shape.
I never saw any signs of fatigue or any things that said that it was time for him to finish.
No one dares to say such a thing.
God bless Igor.
This is undoubtedly the football player who benefits CSKA and the entire Russian football, ”Gershkovich emphasized.
But this, unfortunately, cannot be said more about Dzagoev.
One of the most talented football players in the country has recently been more involved in treatment than out on the field.
Starting in 2016, he was literally haunted by various injuries, due to which he regularly dropped out for a long time.
In the last two and a half years alone, he missed a total of 22 matches.
And in 2019, he was completely out of action for more than 200 days due to a torn cruciate ligament.
“I have a lot of respect for Alan as a player, he had a good career.
But, apparently, now injuries ... do not give the opportunity to continue to play in CSKA.
I think they will decide everything with the club.
It's hard to comment on something when you don't really know the reasons.
Alan is a good, talented player, but it seems that there is no opportunity to play at a high level.
Nothing is eternal.
I do not rule out that this is a mutual decision ... I know that the club has always had a good relationship with Alan, and Dzagoev with CSKA.
Apparently, the time has come when it's time to part, ”complained Gershkovich.
This season, the midfielder began to receive even less practice and practically stopped getting into the main squad.
As a result, in total in all tournaments, he spent only 815 minutes on the field in 22 games.
The native of Beslan also rarely pleased with effective actions.
He has only three assists to his credit.
In the spring, Alan took part in only four meetings, and then received another injury.
However, Dzagoev, who has been playing for CSKA since 2008, will forever remain a club legend.
Over the years, he played almost four hundred fights for the army team - 397, in which he scored 77 goals.
And the fans will always remember his golden goal against Rubin in 2016 and his incredible technique.
If Alan's departure, with all due respect to him, is not a blow to the current army team, then terminating the contract with Fernandez can turn into a serious problem.
For almost ten years, the naturalized Brazilian has become an absolutely indispensable performer on the right flank of the defense, without which it seemed unrealistic to imagine the squad.
“Dzagoev suffered injuries at the end of his career, so he played little, because of this, the contract was terminated.
It is a pity that this happened, because he is a very high level player.
Yesterday it became known about Mario's departure ... Somehow, everything still looks difficult for CSKA if they do not find a replacement for them, ”Grishin emphasized.
But in the case of the defender, the club's actions look logical.
Firstly, Mario will turn 32 in September and he would still need a replacement in the near future.
Secondly, he began to regularly receive various injuries, although previously he had practically no health problems.
In the last year and a half alone, he ended up in the "infirmary" seven times.
It is no coincidence that in the fall he even announced his departure from the Russian national team, since he could no longer be torn into two fronts.
At the same time, CSKA has a good replacement for Fernandez in the person of a hard-working 19-year-old Yegor Ushakov, who is able to close the entire right curb.
The talented pupil still lacks experience, but the coaching staff gives him more and more time.
It is noteworthy that the naturalized Brazilian lost the position of winger to him in several matches, since he is no longer able to give such a volume of work as before.
Serious changes will also affect legionnaires.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin will leave the team at the end of the lease term.
According to media reports, Yusuf Yazici, who scored eight goals in ten RPL matches, will not be redeemed from Lille, although the footballer himself and his agent have repeatedly expressed their desire to stay in Moscow.
The ongoing processes indicate that the club is once again changing the vector of development.
If in the winter he could afford to strengthen the ranks with four foreigners at once, now he will watch his own pupils more for the sake of saving money.
And there is someone to pay attention to in CSKA, because the red and blue won the youth championship twice in a row.
Thus, in the next season, the army team can turn into an analogue of Krasnodar, actively providing practice to their young players, such as Ushakov.
Given the lack of the opportunity to play in European competition, such a vector looks quite logical.
And the more restrictions are in place, the more seriously domestic clubs will save.