"I love surprising people who say we're weak."

Last summer, John Cordoba could have blown up the RPL transfer market: the Colombian was long sought by Zenit, and then Spartak joined the negotiations. But no one closed the deal, and on November 5, the striker extended his contract with Krasnodar until the summer of 2027. In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, Cordoba told how the negotiations with Zenit and Spartak took place, expressed his attitude to the sanctions against Russian sport, and also noted the difference between working with Vladimir Ivic and Murad Musaev.

I am grateful to Spartak and Zenit for their interest, but Krasnodar is my home

- You recently extended your contract with Krasnodar. Are you happy that you stayed at the club?

- I have always said that Krasnodar is the place where I was treated the best. I am happy here. I can say that this is my home, where I feel love. The club did a lot to make me stay, and this care and interest played a crucial role in my decision to extend my contract.

- That said, there was plenty of talk about leaving in the winter and especially in the summer.

- There were indeed a lot of rumors. But I always remained focused on just one club. I was told about the interest of Spartak and Zenit. And I am grateful to them for this interest. But everything has been resolved: I stayed at Krasnodar and will continue to do everything for the team.

- Former Spartak sporting director Tomas Amaral said that the club was not satisfied either with the amount announced by Krasnodar or with your financial demands....

- What Spartak decided is Spartak's business. I know what I am worth! But actually, in this situation, I think it was John Cordoba who decided not to move to Spartak, not Spartak who decided not to buy me.

- How seriously did you consider this option?

- I respect Spartak as a club. I respect the players and the coach of this team. And, I repeat, I thank them for their interest in me. But the story with Spartak is closed for me, I need to leave it in the past. It does not play any role in my life.

- And how close was the story with Zenit? The Piters also came to you?

- Yes, but not directly. Everything was decided through the agent. I didn`t communicate with anyone personally. Contacts with Zenit were during the America's Cup. I was absorbed in playing for the national team and was not interested in what my agent was talking about with other clubs.

- Is it important for you to attract the attention of other clubs?

- Of course, it's a nice emotion! It's a motivation to continue to do well. I like it when there is such interest. When you get calls from almost all leagues, it's a very pleasant feeling.

- How often did you personally communicate with Sergey Galitsky during the negotiations on contract extension?

- We have a very good relationship with the president. We have always respected each other. I repeat: I will always be more grateful to Krasnodar than to any other club I have played for.

At the World Cup-2026 Russia would definitely make it out of the group

- The America's Cup is your first major tournament as a member of the national team. How does it feel?

- It's a very high level tournament. I enjoyed all the games, it's a good experience for me.

- You played against Messi. Is he still the best soccer player in the world?

- I played against Leo back in Spain. I respect him. As for the title of the greatest, I think everyone has their own preferences. Personally, I cannot choose between him and Ronaldo.

- What if you could sign only one of them to Krasnodar?

- Both of them! Or neither, because I'm here.

- Colombia have a great chance to qualify for the World Cup in 2026. Is it your dream to play at the mundial?

- Of course! It's one of the things that have always motivated me. Playing at the World Cup is one of my main desires. I will do everything to make it happen.

- The format of the World Championship has changed. Don't you think that with more teams the tournament will lose its level?

- Honestly, I just want to enjoy this tournament. Not many people get this opportunity. If I get it, I don't care who I play against.

- The Russian national team still doesn't play in official matches. If it played at the 2026 World Cup, what would be its chances?

- It's hard to say. There are a lot of good players in Russia, everything continues to develop here, no matter what. And the World Cup is an unpredictable thing, you never know who will finish where. But Russia would have definitely made it out of the group.

- How do you perceive the suspension of our national team now?

- It's very sad. Naturally, I want the young players of Krasnodar - Chernikov, Krivtsov and others - to play in major tournaments. But even now they need to continue to work to the maximum and give their best. This will help in the future. I think it's unfair to deprive Russia of the opportunity to play on the international stage, because sports and soccer, in particular, have nothing to do with what's going on. But it is not for me to decide, although I would like the Russian national team and clubs to return to the international arena.

- How do you look at the idea of a friendly match between Russia and Colombia?

- I would like it very much! God willing, such a match will take place one day.

- Are you ready to help?

- If it depended on me, we would have played already!

Some people think I'm a monster, but my heart is not made of stone

- Let's go back to last season. Did you have a feeling that after the change of coach the team could fall apart?

- Change is always difficult. But the coach gave his best, we also did our best. And this attitude to each other can be felt to this day.

- Chernikov said that the team had a shock after the resignation of coach Vladimir Ivic. How did you experience these events?

- Of course, it was a surprise for us. But there were only two options: to drop everything and fall or to continue to fight for the championship. We chose the second.

- Did Murad Musayev change your game a lot?

- I can`t talk about any of the two coaches in such a way. We have done a great job with Ivic, with Musayev we are also doing well. We just need to continue what we started and do everything with pleasure.

- Ivic was warmly received, the fans at the match with Loko even dedicated a banner to him.

- This is a man who made me believe in myself. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him. We also have good relations with Musayev, there is trust between us. With this positive attitude we move forward together.

- Did you believe in the championship last season to the last?

- Of course! The whole team believed in it until the very end. But I was especially upset when I saw Zenit's goal and the way it was scored.

- Ridiculous goal?

- I won't give an assessment. But you saw it yourself.

- After the game you had tears in your eyes. But your image is so brutal that it might have seemed that you were crying for the first time.

- Of course, not for the first time. Still, my heart is not made of stone, I have emotions and feelings. A lot of people don't know the real me. Maybe that's why some people think that I can't cry. Looking at me on the pitch, someone thinks that I'm some kind of monster, but in fact, outside of it I'm a very calm person.

- What did Galitsky say in the locker room after that game with Dynamo?

- I will not divulge internal things. It's a rule that can't be broken.

- Did you feel that Galitsky was upset? After all, the main thing for him is the game, not titles.

- I think that when we have come such a long way and reached the key moment, it was important for everyone to win, but it didn't happen.... This season we will also fight until the very end.

- Some people even thought that Krasnodar would not fight hard in the game with Dynamo, as long as Zenit would not become champions again. There were no such thoughts?

- No! Everyone had a chance to win. And we realized that we had to say goodbye to the fans at the end of the season with a victory. Although we were in tears, but after a job well done we were satisfied with ourselves and went home quietly.

I do not mind getting a Russian passport

- Somebody went home, but you went to the America's Cup. You haven't even had a full vacation since January. How do you feel by the end of the year?

- Of course, I'm tired. But I'm used to working until the very end.

- Even tired, you're in great shape. What is the secret?

- It's all about training and preparation for each match.

- What is your best vacation?

- I like to just spend the day at home and watch something. But there are also recovery procedures.

- Maxim Glushenkov said that he could drink two glasses of beer after the game. That's not how you recover?

- Everyone has their own methods. I might as well have a beer..... I can't say it's a bad thing. But I prefer to eat well!

- Today "Krasnodar" partially remains Ivic's team, or is it a completely new Musayev's team?

- I'll put it this way: it seems to me that the ideas that our coach is offering now give results, and we take them well.

- Is Musayev's soccer more open and attacking than pragmatic Ivic's?

- I respect the style of each coach. I felt good both with Ivic and Musayev. I would not like to compare them. I do not like it.

- Few people believed that you would continue to fight for the championship this season. Have you become stronger?

- I love to surprise people who say we are weak. Now we have a very good and cohesive team, with which we continue to fight.

- Nikita Krivtsov recently said that Zenit stopped being invincible. Do you agree?

- Of course.

- "Krasnodar" today is a fighter against injustice?

- We are focused on ourselves. I will not talk about the referees and other teams. Our task is to continue to work and fight.

- "Krasnodar" will be champion in May 2025?

- We need to go step by step. But we have high chances.

- Who do you consider your main opponent among the forwards?

- I would single out Zenit's attack. But there are also Spartak and Lokomotiv. I do not want to minimize the merits of their players.

- After your return to Russia in 2022, do you still live here alone, without your family?

- Yes, they do not live in Russia.

- Are they afraid to return?

- I wouldn't want to talk about my family. I try not to reveal anything. This is our internal affairs.

- What doubts did you have before signing a new contract with Krasnodar?

- My family comes first, and this is the most important thing.

- What does it have to do with the contract?

- I would not like to talk about it, I have already signed it and I am happy with my decision.

- When you talk about the connection between the family and the contract, do you mean the difficulties with the lack of an airport?

- Well yes, it could be a lot easier with the traveling.

- Where does John Cordoba dream of finishing his career?

- I don't know yet. It's too early to talk about it. Right now I am enjoying every moment.

- Are you ready for Krasnodar?

- Anything is possible.

- By 2027, you will have lived in Russia for six years. Have you thought about getting a Russian passport?

- Everything is possible. Personally, I'm not against it. Even though I am Colombian, I don't see any problems in getting Russian citizenship.