“Will fit perfectly into Semak’s scheme”: why Bakaev’s transfer to Zenit will benefit both the player and the club

One of the most high-profile epics of the summer transfer window in Russia has come to an end.

A pupil of Spartak Zelimkhan Bakaev, who grew up in the red-and-white camp to the main Russian national football team, moved to Zenit.

The midfielder signed a contract under the “3 + 1” system: he will play in St. Petersburg for three seasons and, if during the last one he starts 70% of the meetings in the starting lineup, the agreement will be automatically extended for another year.

Talk that the midfielder could leave Spartak appeared a few months ago in the midst of the Russian football championship.

However, at that time such rumors were not taken seriously.

Many were sure that this was another agency game, and the parties were simply discussing the terms of a new contract.

“It seems to me that he asked for more money, and the management is not yet going to raise wages.

After all, they closed Spartak-2.

I think that in any case they will agree.

I see how Bakaev is offended when they change him, but I want to tell him one thing: they don’t look for good from good.

In Zenit, Malcom acts in his place, and this is a football player of a completely different level, ”said Evgeny Lovchev, a veteran of Spartak, in an interview with RT.

However, after the final of the Cup of Russia, in which Bakaev remained on the bench, it was clear that the midfielder was really leaving.

And if other players rejoiced at winning the trophy, then he shared with journalists his resentment at the club that did not offer his pupil a new contract.

“There were no negotiations.

It's a lie that I asked for big money.

Even if you wanted something transcendental, you can negotiate, but there were none.

Guys, who thinks that I have become insolent, do not believe this, ”Zelimkhan assured.

In Spartak, at first they pretended to be surprised by such words.

As the sports director of the red-and-whites Luca Cattani explained, there was supposedly such an installation - before the final of the Russian Cup, not to negotiate with anyone, so as not to distract the players from the main match of the season.

However, already on June 1, the red-whites officially announced Bakaev's departure from the club.

A little later, at a press conference, the Italian took responsibility for this decision.

According to the specialist, an unhealthy hype was created around Zelimkhan, which did not benefit the team.

“It was not a technical issue, not a financial one, but an alchemy issue with the club.

It’s not normal when after matches they ask each time how many minutes Bakaev played.

I did not communicate with Zarema Salikhova on this topic.

The only person who influenced this decision is Paolo Vanoli,” said Cattani.

Many people were surprised by the decision of Spartak, even the former coach of the red and white Massimo Carrera.

After all, the club gave the competitors a football player of the level of the Russian national team for free.

And of course, Zenit could not fail to take advantage of such a chance.

According to the ex-striker of the national team Dmitry Radchenko, Zelimkhan's departure is a loss for the red-whites, because no matter what the "alchemy" within the team, he always gave all his best on the field.

“I saw how his eyes burned.

Bakaev loved this club and wanted to benefit him.

Why he sometimes did not get into the composition, you need to ask the management.

But his desire to fight for the team was evident in his game, drive and dedication.

Because of what, Spartak gives away one of the key players to a direct competitor for free - the question is not for us, but for the Moscow club, ”the specialist noted in a commentary to RT.

I am sure that in no case should the red-and-whites let Bakaev go, and the former midfielder of Spartak Valery Kechinov.

“Not only is he a pupil, but also a good footballer.

Zelimkhan was one of the leaders in Spartak, he acted very brightly, he was constantly creative.

Could beat, and give, and score.

In general, it’s strange why they didn’t renew the contract with him and didn’t agree, and he also left as a free agent for Zenit.

And so a strong team gets a cool Russian performer for free.

This is nonsense,” Kechinov explained.

At the same time, Bakaev should not have problems with fans.

Unlike the situations with Artyom Dziuba or Vladimir Bystrov, his transition to St. Petersburg is forced.

In addition, according to various sources, the football player does not win much financially.

The midfielder's salary at Zenit will be just over one €1 million per year, about the same amount he received at Spartak.

As the former red-and-white midfielder Andrey Tikhonov noted, the fans should be sympathetic to this transfer.

“It is unlikely that moods will prevail among the fans, as after the transfer of Dzyuba.

Here the situation is completely different, it is not worth comparing them.

Bakaev wanted to stay in Moscow, but the club itself did not want to see him in the team.

You can also recall the situation with Bystrov, who was removed from Zenit, and he came to Spartak.

Then Vladimir returned to St. Petersburg, he was not loved, but with his game he made the fans respect him again.

There was no longer such a rigid antagonism.

Now the players are choosing where they will be better off, ”Tikhonov said in an interview with RT.

If you close your eyes to the relationship between clubs and fans, Bakaev made the right choice for himself.

In two weeks he will turn 26 years old, and in four years in St. Petersburg he can grow into one of the leaders of the national team.

For this, the football player has all the qualities, and most importantly, the desire to play football.

The competition at Zenit is undoubtedly much higher than at Spartak.

But at the same time, there are much more incentives for development and there is someone to learn from.

Brazilians Malcolm, Yuri Alberto, Wendel remain at the club despite his suspension from European competition.

At the same time, the team is led by a very balanced and reasonable Sergey Semak, who knows how to find a balance between legionnaires and Russians.

In the winter transfer window, many wondered why Zenit needed Ivan Sergeev.

Everyone predicted a place in the reserve for him.

However, the Krylya Sovetov forward, in company with foreigners, improved and gave a powerful end to the season.

In the last six matches of the championship, he appeared on the field from the first minutes and scored three goals.

The coach finds a common language with those players who remain on the bench.

It is not always possible to see Magomed Ozdoev, Daler Kuzyaev, Alexander Erokhin at the start.

However, none of them takes offense at Semak.

Or, at least, he doesn't talk about it openly.

Bakaev is also needed by Zenit itself.

The St. Petersburg club at the end of the season began to show faster and more technical football.

In the absence of Dzyuba and Ozdoev, the coaching staff will probably continue to instill in the team just such a game, including through careful selection of performers.

And Zelimkhan can be used both as a winger on both flanks and as a striker, if the need arises in the event of an injury to Sergeyev or Yuri Alberto.

“I like the way Zelimkhan acts, and I think he will fit perfectly into Semak’s scheme.

I knew that Zenit was looking for an attacking midfielder and under the current conditions this is a very good option.

Yes, the competition is high, but I am sure that Bakaev will be able to compete for a place at the base and benefit the team, ”said Dmitry Radchenko.

Surely, the coaching staff of Zenit and the dedication of a football player on the field are captivating.

He is able to put pressure on the opponent's defenders throughout almost the entire match.

This is how Valery Karpin uses it in the Russian national team.

Therefore, it is possible that there will be a place for the midfielder in the starting lineup of the Petersburgers.

“If Zelimkhan went there, he is confident in his abilities.

I do not think that Zenit takes the player to the bench.

Let's see how it will look," summed up Andrey Tikhonov.