Does Kairat need Dzyuba?

Will the famous striker Artem DZYUBA help the Kazakh team in the Champions League? And has the 36-year-old striker lost all his goalscoring skills?

Artem Dzyuba is the best scorer in the history of the Russian championships. He has 163 goals to his credit. He is a four-time champion of Russia, a three-time winner of the Cup of his country, a four-time winner of the Super Cup. A participant in the 2016 and 2020 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup. Artem has been recognized as the best footballer in Russia more than once. In short, he is a star of Russian football.

And in non-sports circles, Dzyuba gained wide scandalous fame in 2020 thanks to intimate videos leaked online by someone... Because of this scandal, the then head coach of the Russian national team, Stanislav CHERCHESOV, even decided not to call Dzyuba up for the national team's matches.

Artem currently plays in the Russian Premier League for Akron from Tolyatti (9th place). His contract with this club runs until the summer of 2025. However, the chairman of the supervisory board of Kairat, Kairat BORANBAYEV, said that the club is considering the option of acquiring the Akron striker.

- I personally talk to Dzyuba, we are chatting. We have known each other for a long time. Now Artem wants to break the record of Alexander KERZHAKOV (former forward of Zenit and the Russian national team. - A.T.). We will continue to talk. We are in contact, we are waiting for Artem, - Boranbaev said in an interview with Kinopoisk.

This season, Dzyuba has played 11 matches for Akron in all tournaments, scoring three goals. He still needs two more goals to surpass Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s record and become the top scorer in the history of Russian football.

- I think Artem will definitely beat this record. He has a well-developed football intellect. He is a very strong striker, - says Zenit goalkeeper Mikhail KERZHAKOV, brother of Alexander Kerzhakov.

But Aleksandr Kerzhakov is not fixated on Artem Dzyuba’s desire to break his records.

"I thought he had broken them long ago. I am calm about records in team sports. For me, this is not only the merit of the one who scores. When I started playing, I could not imagine that I would score so many goals. And I am grateful to my partners for each one. My career turned out in such a way that I calmly left when I wanted, and I did not extend it for the sake of some records. But it is great that Artem strives for this," the former coach of "Kairat" Alexander Kerzhakov is quoted by "Championship".

Former head coach of the Kazakhstan national team Magomed ADIEV commented to the portal “Sport day by day” on the possible transfer of Artem Dzyuba to “Kairat”.

- Will it be easy for Dzyuba to play in Kazakhstan or not?

- It all depends on the management and the coach. If they see potential in him, that he can help them in the European Cups, why not? Artem is, let's say, a very big forward by Russian standards. Now in Akron he is proving that he has not lost his motivation. Therefore, I think that this will be a certain reinforcement for Kairat.

- Isn't it risky to take such an aged striker for the Champions League?

- I don't think so. His last games for Akron show that he is in good shape. Plus, as we know, Kairat has never been afraid to sign older players. TIMOSHCHUK and ARSHAVIN are proof of that. They played well in the Kazakhstan championship. I don't think there will be any problems here. If Artem wants to change the environment, I think this union should produce results.

The author of the first goal of the Kazakhstan national team under the auspices of FIFA, Maksim NIZOVTSEV, also explained the reason for Dzyuba’s possible appearance in Kairat.

- I think Kairat Boranbayev wants to raise the club's profile even more, because Dzyuba is a good media personality for promotion. But in the Kazakhstan championship, you still have to make an effort. It is easier for Artem to become a media star than a football star. After all, he is 36 years old. Russia has a very good infrastructure now, but Kazakhstan does not have many fields and stadiums. If the field is not of very good quality, it will be difficult to adapt to this, - the former player of the Kazakhstan national team expressed his doubts.

But many experts believe that Dzyuba will not be of much use to Kairat.

- A possible transfer to Kairat is Artem's business. But I have doubts that it would be interesting to watch him in the European Cups. Naturally, Kairat has the right to play in the Champions League. But there, especially with the new system, Kairat players will be whipping boys, - believes former Tom head coach Valery NEPOMNYASHCHIY.

Former CSKA footballer Vladimir PONOMAREV spoke even more harshly in a conversation with RB Sport:

- If Kairat wants to fail miserably in the Champions League, then Dzyuba will help them do it. Let them buy him. He is no longer anything as a footballer. Artem is a write-off.

The former army man was supported by the famous coach Vlastimil PERTRŽELA:

- A club wants to invite Dzyuba to strengthen itself for the Champions League? It's just ridiculous. It was possible, but about seven years ago. Now Dzyuba will not strengthen any club playing in the Champions League. There is no point in a club playing in European competitions buying him. Dzyuba's career is already behind him...

By the way, if Artem scores for Kairat, even in the Kazakhstan championship, these goals will also be added to the forward's total. This means that there is still a point in moving to Almaty. At least to become a record holder in Russia...

Alexander TROFIMOV, photo from news.sportbox.ru, Almaty