"I learned about my departure from Loko from the Internet and various rumors"

The Russian national team played two friendly matches in early June. Last week, she drew with Nigeria at home (1:1), and on June 10, in the evening, she beat Belarus (4:1) away. The match in Minsk was fully played by defender Alexander Silyanov, who has been a regular member of the national team since the fall of 2022.

Recently, he also signed a new contract with Loko, which is valid until the summer of 2029. At the same time, information about the possible transfer of the 24-year-old football player to Zenit, Dynamo Moscow and other top RPL clubs regularly appeared in the media and Telegram channels. In an interview with Izvestia, Silyanov shared his emotions from signing the new agreement, commented on the past matches of the national team, talked about his football idols and whether he had a desire to go to one of the European championships.

— How would you rate the match against Belarus?

— We won big, so we're happy with the result. Of course, I would like to do without conceding a goal. And in general, there is dissatisfaction with the number of moments that arose at our gates. But the main thing is that we won, and with a big score. That's why we're going on vacation in a good mood.

— How did the match against Nigeria look from the outside? What was not enough to win?

— We controlled the ball and played well defensively. What wasn't enough to win? I believe that the realization of the moments at the end of the match.

— During the June matches, the Russian national team broke a long streak without conceding goals, which began a year and a half ago. As a defender, was it important for you to make it as long as possible?

— Of course, it's nice when you play zero, miss little or not at all. But any series stops at some point, so it's okay.

— You have been called up to almost all the matches of the national team since 2022, when it was suspended from international competitions. Are you still motivated to play for her? Don't you take it as a routine?

— I don't perceive it. I'm still very happy to come to the national team, just like the first time.

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— Which of your matches for the national team do you consider the best for the team and for yourself?

— With Serbia or with Cameroon.

— Which of your matches for the national team was most memorable for the atmosphere?

— It was great with Cuba in Volgograd, when almost the entire stadium was full. And a lot of fans came to the match with Serbia in Moscow. And it was the same with Cameroon. It seems to me that every match of the national team was like this. If you remember all the matches that I was called to, then there were always a lot of people coming to the stands. So every game for the national team is memorable.

— Has Valery Karpin changed in the three months that he has been coaching the national team without combining with Rostov and without numerous long trips with the club?

— I don't think so, to be honest.

— Were you relieved when, after a year and a half at Rostov, you returned to Lokomotiv and no longer had to constantly face difficult logistics?

— Of course, I was a little relieved when I returned to Lokomotiv, because I no longer had such constant trips as I had with Rostov. But another problem began — in Rostov-on-Don, I drove from home for five minutes to practice, in Moscow it takes an hour or 40 minutes to get to the Lokomotiv base in Bakovka. So nothing has changed here.

— Do you have a desire to go to play at any of the European national championships?

— It's a tough question. Previously, there were probably just such ambitions. I probably used to dream about Europe when Cristiano Ronaldo played for Manchester United there. And I wanted to go to Manchester United. Right now, I probably wouldn't want to go there if I was offered such a thing. I don't have such a big dream of leaving, because I have family and friends here in Russia. But if they call me somewhere, maybe I'll consider this option.

— Is there a favorite club in Europe?

— Probably Manchester City.

— During the time of playing in the RPL, were there any options to go to Europe?

— No, probably not. Or they just didn't tell me about it. In any case, I have never heard from anyone about a specific interest in me from a European club.

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— Which of your colleagues in the role do you like the most as a player? Who were you guided by in childhood and are you guided by now?

— When I was a kid, I played in the attack, so I focused on Cristiano Ronaldo. And now, because I'm a defender, I like the way Nuno Mendes from PSG plays.

— How would you comment on the recent signing of a new contract with Lokomotiv until 2029?

— I am very happy to stay at Lokomotiv, in the team that has become my family, since I have been in it since 2019. I am pleased that I have extended the agreement, and I will do everything to benefit the club.

— Over the past year, there have been rumors of interest in you from Zenit, Dynamo Moscow and a number of other RPL clubs. Was any of this true?

— There were conversations about it, but in most cases, like everyone else, I learned about everything from the Internet and various listeners. There was no direct final offer from someone to transfer.

— Where will you spend your holidays? Where do you usually spend your summers?

— We usually don't go far in the summer. Or we go somewhere new. We flew to Turkey last year. My wife and I are currently on our honeymoon, and I'm preparing a surprise for her about where to fly. But we were going to Turkey again.