"I never imagined in my life that I would play against Messi!"

Krasnodar's championship has been celebrated in recent weeks by many graduates of the club's academy, who have spread all over the world. Among them is Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov, who became the first pupil to overcome the mark of one hundred official matches for the Bulls. After Krasnodar, Shapi had a series of foreign leases: Turkey, Israel, Greece, where Aris bought the football player from a Russian club and resold him to the American Sporting Kansas City.

In an interview with Izvestia and SE, Suleymanov spoke about the gold of his hometown club, Sergei Galitsky and Murad Musayev, a conversation with Khabib Nurmagomedov and the MLS, where he had a chance to play against Lionel Messi.

Galitsky should have a monument erected during his lifetime

— How was Krasnodar's gold received?

— I really wanted my hometown club to win this trophy, I was very supportive of it. I woke up at eight in the morning to watch the broadcast of the match with Dynamo. I thought that Krasnodar would win at home and would not miss such a chance for gold, but I was still very worried. For the president, for the head coach, with whom I worked at different ages from children to adults, for the guys I studied with at the academy, for the fans, for the city. I can't tell you how many people I would like to congratulate, including, for example, schoolteachers at our academy. They deserved it all, and Sergey Nikolaevich deserved it the most! And despite the time difference, I tried to watch as many games as possible, unless they started very early.

In the winter, I was worried that Krasnodar had not strengthened at all, I thought it would be harder because of this - Zenit has more players. I was also worried about injuries — the same John Cordoba, if he broke down, it would be difficult to replace. Although I think Fedya Smolov did a good job too, he still played a little deeper this season, not on the edge.

But the team held out. I know Sergey Nikolaevich, Murad Olegovich, and how they live football. And I am very happy for them.

Galitsky just needs to put up a monument during his lifetime! I wish him all the best that can be in this world. And first of all, good health and long life. The club won the championship — and for it to happen many more times. So that Krasnodar wins every year. And so that his dream would come true and 11 academy students could be in the starting line-up of the first team! Not just to appear once, but to play regularly. And the fact that the guys from the academy had key roles in this championship adds to the joy.

— What are your most vivid memories of the Bulls Academy?

— I always remember her only with warmth! They give you a routine and a mindset that won't be easy anywhere else. There are two training sessions every day. There is not much rest as such. And it's a good school. Your main memories are of people with whom you have developed relationships that probably won't work out with anyone else. How we jumped on trampolines, swam in the pool, and played pranks on the team…

— They played chess — Galitsky introduced them to their lesson there.

— Yes, and I am very, very glad that I can play chess and that we had such a lesson. This is both a kind of relief from heavier subjects in terms of study, and at the same time a burden. After all, we were playing fast chess, where you have to make decisions instantly. I think it helps you think faster in football, too.

I like to play chess not on my phone or computer, but on a table, for real. When to take a piece in your hand and make a move. I even played against the president of Krasnodar once. You have to win in class to get the right to play with Galitsky.

— And how did you play?

— The president won. Although I won't say that there's no chance for me.

— We had dinner with him several times, and Galitsky seems to me to be a man who loves to argue about everything — with journalists, with anyone. And what is he like from the inside?

— A man who cannot be persuaded. I don't know if anyone has succeeded or not. But how much happiness he has given us all! Someone probably thinks that my happiest moment in Krasnodar is the goal of Valencia. Not really. I'll never forget how I came from the youth team to the first team, felt this level of football, looked at these people — and just wanted to be there, at the base. I appreciate every moment. How the academy and I played against our peers from Real Madrid, when the stadium was full, and we boys couldn't believe our eyes. I'll remember it forever.

— Wasn't it Galitsky's idea to write just a Cap on your back instead of your last name?

— No, this is Nurbiy Hakunov (long—time team leader and technical director, now Deputy CEO of Krasnodar. — Izvestia), to whom I send a separate greeting. He suggested it, and I thought it was cool.

— Going back to this season, why do you think, against the background of the frenzied arms race that Zenit and Spartak staged, Krasnodar did not take anyone at all in the winter?

— Because people work in a team and feel when and what is needed. You also need to be able to buy a player correctly. Take someone who will strengthen you precisely, because there wasn't much time left until the end of the season, and in 12 rounds it's not so easy to fit into the team and help it. Plus, it's hard to bring football players to Krasnodar right now because the airport is not working.

"Everyone wanted to give a gift to Galitsky"

Krasnodar football player Yuri Gazinsky — about the gold of the Russian championship and whether he believed in it at the beginning of the season

— You've already dealt with this, too.

— Yes, when I returned from Turkey. We drove about five hours to Minvod, then to Stavropol, and from there you fly about three hours to Moscow. And so it is all the time. Compare with Moscow clubs, which basically have four fewer departures, and most of the others have direct and short—term flights. It takes them a long time to get to Krasnodar and Rostov alone, but that's twice a season. And for these two clubs — for every away match. And Krasnodar took the gold, despite such an additional burden, which should not be forgotten. It was much harder for them in terms of logistics, but they became champions anyway.

— Have you ever caught yourself feeling that you would like to be in Krasnodar, on the field, at this moment?

— Of course, I would like to become the champion of Russia. But everyone has their own way. I hope I'll come to that too.

Musaev knew how to channel my energy

— Murad Musayev once said that you are the kind of person who needs to be trusted, and then you will show everything you can.

— I remember his other words — that my energy should be properly directed. All right. It's important for me that the coach talks to me. If he tells me directly how he sees the situation at the moment, and even if it's not very pleasant to hear, I'll take it calmly. But when they don't tell me anything and I don't understand what's going on, it's much worse.

I've always had a good relationship with Murad Olegovich, and I understood what he wanted from me. He told me the truth, sometimes quite unpleasant. I listened, digested, and replied, "Olegovich, no problem at all!" And the connection was two—way- I could always approach him, too. If I saw that I was scoring but not making the starting line-up, I could ask him about it. And again, he answered honestly, and I accepted it. You can ask him, and he'll confirm that I've always approached him.: "I want to play, I want to play!" But Musaev knew how to channel my energy.

— How old were you when you first started working with Musaev?

— When he joined our team, I was 14. At 13, I joined the Krasnodar Academy, and Murad Olegovich took over a year later. He worked with us for a year and a half, then moved to another academy team, then returned - and after that we won everything that could be won in the youth, and then in the youth team. After that, he led the first team.

— When was the last time you talked to Galitsky?

— When I came from Israel, we played with Dynamo for the Ivich Cup, with which I went through training camps. I think I got a good game, and the president praised it. That's when. In my opinion, it was 2023.

— How do you like Ivich?

— A very cool guy and a cool coach! For me, he's a man with a capital letter. I didn't think at all that I would play at least one more match for the club, because there were some difficult moments. But not only did he let me play, he also said in a personal conversation: "You can stay in Krasnodar and don't be afraid of anything, I don't care about any pitfalls." But I already had other priorities.

— Were you surprised when it was removed? Krasnodar was only one point behind Zenit.

— To be honest, I was surprised. We finished the first part of the championship in first place, the height of the season… But I know the inner kitchen of Krasnodar, the vision of the club. Therefore, although I was surprised, I took it more calmly than those who do not know her.

"We will do everything to experience these moments of joy again"

Krasnodar football player Alexander Chernikov — about the emotions of the first championship in the club's history

— Was it really the case that Ivich's football did not match the style of the game that Galitsky sees?

— Since I was not in the locker room during this period, it is difficult to judge this. I know that the president has his own vision, and you will not convince him of anything. You can argue with him, but you can't convince him. And he just loves beautiful football. But the team had a result, and the game seemed to be good. Yes, maybe not as spectacular as usual for Krasnodar, but the team was in the first place.… It's a tough question. I don't know what happened inside.

— But Musaev returned. And he made the Bulls first silver medalists, and then champions.

— Yes, and at the same time, the championship started with three draws. But before any conversations and complaints could begin about this, a long winning streak began, which laid the foundation for the championship. We need to give people time. No top coach will put on a game right away, for this you need to be able to be patient, work and wait.

— Are you in touch with Musaev?

— Yes, and quite often. When I signed with Kansas City, he congratulated me on my transfer. When Krasnodar wins, I congratulate them too. I tell you, I wish the club and the people who have done a lot for me only the best, and I really support them. And I would like to wish Murad Olegovich to win many more championships after this gold. People have no idea how much this person spends on work, theory and everything else.

For me, Messi is the best football player in history.

— How did you get into the MLS?

— The sporting director of Kansas City came to look at another Ariza player who is also here now, Manu Garcia. He noticed me in the same match. People looked at where I was playing, talked to the club, and contacted me and my agent. Then we talked with the head coach Peter Vermes. Of course, if he didn't want me, I wouldn't have come here. I remember going to visit Chalov in Thessaloniki, and at that time the sports director called me. And when I was already at Fedya's house, I talked with the coach. They were very interested in my transition, and I thought it was a good and unusual experience.

— Chalov also said: "Go!"?

- yes. And he even gave me Lyosha Miranchuk's number to ask about something, if necessary. Fedya told me how much he enjoyed being in Switzerland and after that he wanted to play abroad. About my American offer, he said, "It would be cool to try!"

And after that conversation with Vermes, I discussed it with my family, realized that no one was against it, and I made a quick decision for myself. Because I understood: I'm interested myself. In addition, there were constant salary delays in Greece, which also affected this. But first of all, I was curious about what it was like in another part of the world. Especially since the World Cup is here in a year.

I've had a little dream since I was a kid. I once watched the movie "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and really wanted to visit there someday, see everything with my own eyes, and walk through Central Park. Even Spider-Man takes place in New York City, too. It's not easy to just get there while playing in Europe — get a visa, fly across the ocean. And here is such an opportunity! And that's the first thing I thought about when I received this offer.

— Have you reached New York yet?

"Not yet." Maybe, when the time comes, I'll fly separately. I've already visited many cities: Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Austin. It's fun everywhere. Although sometimes there are all sorts of unpleasant characters, bums.

— Did you manage to climb the Acropolis in Athens?

— Alas. My wife and I walked through a beautiful park once and were about to go there, but my daughter, who turned three in May, wanted to sleep — what can you do? Family is the most important thing for me. And Kansas City is great for families, there are a lot of places to go.

— Did you get a work visa for a long time?

—About two weeks. The flight, however, turned out to be difficult. The first flight was late for its connection in Chicago, the next one was supposed to be at seven o'clock, but it was postponed to 11. I only slept for four hours during the entire flight.

And then one training session, and I immediately applied for the CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Messi in the bitter cold, which I have never played in Russia. Maybe it's even a good thing they didn't let me out. I put on everything I was given, put on some kind of special blanket… But three days later he came on as a substitute in the first round of the championship in Austin, and a week later in Miami against Inter, from the very first minutes.

— What is it like for you to play against Messi?

— I never in my life would have thought that one day I would play not just an hour, but a minute against Messi and take a picture with him after the match. And then it happened a few days after arriving in the USA. That alone was worth the trip! For me, he's the best player in history.

Even when we were in a hotel in Kansas City before the first match and he walked by, I thought it was some kind of dream, that something unimaginable was happening. He also scored the only goal in the Kansas frost, and it was fantastic to watch him play even in such conditions. I even hoped to get his shirt, I wrote to my former Aris teammate Montoya, who played with Leo at Barcelona. [Taking the jersey] was not possible, but going on the field against him and taking a photo with him is also something incredible.

The Year of the Bulls: how Krasnodar won the RPL gold for the first time

Murad Musayev's team was the most confident to go the entire distance of the tournament and did not miss the championship in the last round.

— Do you remember your first impressions of the country and the league?

— Very good stadiums, in general, the entire football infrastructure. Friendly people who will help me with everything — it was a small and pleasant surprise for me. Anyone will say hello and ask how you are.

— Even if he doesn't care about your business at all.

— In any case, it's better when a person behaves politely than the other way around, right? When we take off from Kansas City, we drive right up to the plane in a special parking lot - and immediately board without any formalities. And the same thing happened when I arrived: as soon as I got off the ramp, I immediately got into the car. I've never had anything like this in my career. The organization here is at a high level.

— And how easily did Aris sell you to Kansas City? He just bought you out of Krasnodar.

— There was probably some benefit for them in this transfer, too.

— We even know what kind — the Greeks bought you from the bulls for a million, sold you for almost two and a half.

— To be honest, I don't know all these amounts, the clubs discussed them among themselves. I think it was good for Aris, and for me. Therefore, we quickly came to a common decision, and I flew to the States.

Khabib is not only an athlete, but also a high-flying man.

— Mixed martial arts is very popular in the USA. Is going to the fights another one of your dreams?

— After all, when Khabib finished, I became less interested in this. He used to be on a different level. Of course, many of our guys are fighting here, and if I have the opportunity to go to some fights with their participation and support the guys from Dagestan, whom I know well, I will try to do so.

— Once, in an interview with Krasnodar club TV, you said that you have many mutual friends with Nurmagomedov, but you have never personally communicated with him. Did you succeed in the end?

- yes. Once he was in Krasnodar for a game against CSKA. After the match, I went to the hotel, where we sat with him and his friends for an hour and a half. In this conversation, I became convinced that he is not only an athlete, but also a high-flying man. I was surprised by how easy Khabib is to communicate, how ready he is to help. It was very important for me to learn something from him personally, to hear his advice. Communication with such people, I think, is always beneficial.

— When you were a child, could you also join the fight?

— Like any Dagestani. The first thing we do is fight! Mixed martial arts is now somewhere fifty-fifty. But football is also very popular in Dagestan. Including Khabib himself, and very much so. All fighters play football when they have time.

— You will have the opportunity to watch American football in Kansas City. The local Chiefs are the coolest team.

— Yes, I know. As well as the fact that they lost the last Super Bowl shortly before my arrival, and before that they became champions twice. And they could have become the first team with three titles in a row. But this is a sport... I've never seen American football live yet. They have a short season, from September to February, and if I can go, I'll do it. And besides the NFL, I would like to get to the NBA. Maybe for a baseball game once. And, of course, in the NHL, where there are a lot of our guys. But there is no league in Kansas City, only the NFL.

— You are playing in the fourth country in four years — Turkey, Israel, Greece, and now the USA. Aren't you tired of moving?

— On the contrary, it's very interesting — football is actually different everywhere, with its own peculiarities in each country. What a great atmosphere there was at Giresunspor in Turkey — and the level of football in the league too! And what a great experience I got at Israeli Hapoel Beer Sheva, with whom we fought for the championship and competed in the Conference League, in the decisive match we played away against Villarreal 2-2 and did not reach the playoffs only by additional indicators! There are a lot of fans at matches, a football country. And they can play everywhere now. I'll say right away that I don't want to touch politics.

There are very big clubs in Greece, like Olympiacos, which won the Conference League, and it was very interesting against them. At the same time, any team can take away points from anyone. And our Aris is a big club, great fans. Yes, as in Turkey, many teams have economic problems, but when you enter the field, you forget about it. That's how we got to the Greek Cup final.

When you spend your whole career in Russia, you only know football from one side. And then you get to know the mentality of other countries, and it's different everywhere. But I've met some good people. And when I first arrived in the States, I immediately felt that they were very hospitable and friendly here. The organization of matches in MLS is at the highest level, big shows and fireworks before the games, each team and their fans have their own rituals.

— Did you have time to speak Turkish, Hebrew, or Greek?

— I know some words. After all, most of the players in all the teams are from different countries, and they all speak English. That's how I learned it, although when I left for Turkey, I could only tell you my name.

— Is your travels affected by the fact that, while playing in the RPL, you were deprived of the opportunity to participate in international competitions?

- yes. European competitions are a motivation for many football players. I've always loved them very much, and I've felt special emotions. Maybe that's why he scored important goals for Krasnodar, including in the Champions League and the Europa League playoffs. I played in all three European cups, and it was a little hard to think that there is no opportunity to play in them at home now. This was also one of the reasons for my decisions. There are no European cups in America right now, but there are other competitions, and I started in the States with the CONCACAF Champions Cup, also an international tournament. Even though we played against another American team, Inter Miami, with Messi, Suarez and others.

But everyone has their own opinion about finding motivation. Igor Akinfeev used to say that a football player doesn't need to look for motivation: you have a job, you have to go out and give it your all. That's true, but everyone has their own personality, and it's much easier for someone when they know they have European cups, but for others it doesn't matter. I belong to the first category.

— By the way, did Kansas City know which goals you scored in European competitions?

- yes. They were shown during the presentation at the stadium, and when they announced my transfer on social media.

— Can you compare the level of the RPL with those leagues in which you played?

— I haven't played in Russia for a long time, and it's difficult for me to make such comparisons now. I think the league level has dropped since then, and there are no European cups, and many strong foreign players have left. It is almost impossible to get high-quality Europeans to us now, but then there were dozens of them.

— Alexander Kokorin, in a recent interview with Fyodor Smolov, spoke very negatively about today's RPL.

— Sanya Kokorin is an unusual person. He has his own opinion on everything, which he can express in any form. It is clear that the level of the league has dropped, and during the European Cup it was much higher.

On the other hand, what should I do if the situation is the way it is? Sooner or later, our football will return to the good times. It just can't be any other way. It's another matter how long it takes. You'll also have to start from the bottom in the coefficient table.

But the British went through the same thing once, and look where they are now. After returning, I think we'll have to go back to where we were for about five years. The question is, will they bring us back? After all, Europe has a more complicated attitude towards Russia than the United States does now, and it has a slightly different attitude.

— Do you allow your return to the RPL at some stage?

— Yes, of course. You never know what will happen to you, even in a year. I never even imagined that I would spend part of my career in America. In any case, at some point I would like to return home and still play there.

— You were born in Makhachkala. Did the local Dynamo contact you?

— No, there was no contact with him. But at that moment, when Dynamo entered the Premier League, I did not consider options from Russia, to be honest. After all, European football, even in some of the top countries, is now different from Russian football. And the intensity there is such that it's not easy for us at all. We also had good speeds, and I completely agree with Fyodor Smolov and Valery Karpin, whose conversation I once watched, that the pace in Europe and ours is still different.

Gold on horns: Krasnodar became the champion of Russia in football

The first title in the club's history

— Even if we talk about those non-top championships in which you played?

- yes.

— They expected much more from Fedor Chalov than the three goals in the Greek championship that ended.

— Fedya is a great guy, I wish him only good luck and I know that he is a very good football player. I'm sure he'll be fine. He and Maga Ozdoev are at a good club that participates in European competitions, where there is high competition. And I think it will make them stronger. As for Chalov, they have four strikers in one position, who are constantly being varied, no one plays for 90 minutes, and this does not give them confidence. It is very important for the attackers.

— You had long-term disqualifications in Israel and Greece. How much do you blame yourself for them, and how much do you blame others?

"I blame myself. Then I quickly realize that I was wrong and I shouldn't have done it. I didn't start in Israel, but I got hit in the back of the head and, without looking, slapped back — and, as it turned out, not the one who was hitting. I understood there that I would be disqualified in any case.

But in Greece, I didn't touch anyone at all! It happened after the Cup final, and half the team was shouting the same thing at the French referee at the same time. I've never touched a woman in my life, never even talked to her, but for some reason I was chosen and given five matches. She came and left, beat us with red cards, and blew the final whistle after the goal. There were many points for discussion. She's doing great, but we lost the final. I didn't understand at all why I was disqualified for five matches.

To be honest, I did not fully understand the federation's decision to appoint a female referee from another country to the Cup final in such a hot country and with such fans as in Greece. For me, this is nonsense. Because it's easier to put pressure on and influence her. Let's say she wasn't going to give a yellow card to our player, which would have been the second one, but the rivals from Panathinaikos ran up to her, started demanding, and a minute later she took it out.

— Are foreigners often tried in Greece?

— All the derbies and more or less important matches. Apparently, they believe that local arbitrators are susceptible to all sorts of cases. But football is a thing in which, with more or less controversial episodes, one team will always be unhappy.

— How do you like Russian referees compared to the countries where you played?

— They're the same everywhere, plus or minus. Everyone judges as they know how. It's just that Israel has stricter rules in terms of disqualifications. If you barely touch an opponent, they can slap you for several matches.

Storozhuk crossed the line, allowing himself one statement that angered my father.

— As a student of the club, who was the first of the academy's chicks to play a hundred matches for it, what broke down at Krasnodar at some point? And how did you decide to leave for Turkey?

— When Olegovich [Musaev] left for the first time, it probably broke me a little bit. Viktor Goncharenko came in, and I didn't play much with him. We seemed to have a normal relationship, we talked quite openly. But I wanted to play.

"He wasn't counting on you?"

— Viktor Mikhailovich did not tell me about this. But the transfer window was closing, and at the end of August, an offer arose for me. At first, the clubs were talking to each other, and Krasnodar was not going to let me go, but then the tone changed: "If you want ..." And I decided that it would be better to go play. Everything happened quickly. Maybe I should have stayed, who knows. But then again, when I returned from Turkey, I didn't want to go anywhere, anywhere at all. I've been telling people "no" to an offer from Israel for a month.

— From the same team, where did you end up going?

- yes. The head coach, who talked to me and urged me to go, confessed afterwards: "I didn't believe that you would come." But something happened in Krasnodar that I still can't understand. I think I had a very good relationship with everyone at the club. It's just that someone must have muddied the waters, but I still can't figure out who. Because the attitude towards me has changed very dramatically.

I didn't say a word about leaving just now, but when I discussed it with the coach (Alexander Storozhuk. — Izvestia) some moments, I immediately began to "cover up". One day we arrive from the departure, and in the morning they tell me: "Tell them there, if anything, we are ready to let you go." I didn't understand that. It seems to me that we could have parted more calmly, in a human way.

Again, I seem to be in touch with all the club leaders. And I still don't understand who told who and what about me. I came to Krasnodar with this attitude after Turkey, I had so much desire and motivation to show that I returned home and I want to play at home, in my native team! But, apparently, someone didn't want that.

"To whom?"

— One can certainly think about one thing — at that time there was a head coach who said one thing and did another. Maybe he told the supervisors some things that didn't really happen. There were talks about some kind of conspiracies that Ilzat Akhmetov and I want to arrange. What kind of conspiracies?! What do I need them for? I just got back, I have to prove everything on the field and get into the squad. Which coach and where can I bring?!

All I needed was clean, healthy competition. I didn't ask anyone else for anything. But on the right side of the attack were central midfielders who had recently been bought abroad and who had never played on the wing in their lives. They let out young players who actually played for the first team a number of times.… There is a big question for me in all this. I hope to get an answer to it someday.

— You said that one of the young people once even wanted to move into your room at the base.

— Yes, when I returned from Israel. The whole team lived in the new building, and I was the only one in the old one. I didn't understand that either. I could have had a room set aside for me until I left. The relationship had already developed in such a way that they wanted to take my 93rd number from me and give it to a player from the youth team. Well, at least they didn't do that.

I repeat, I don't know what happened there or how. But I think that in relation to my pupil, who, I think, made some contribution to the history of Krasnodar, this is a little unfair. They could have gone their separate ways just like human beings.

— Then you and Storozhuk had an exchange of very harsh barbs in the press.

— He's a coach, an adult. I was brought up so well that I can't say some things, I can't allow myself too much, because I have to respect my elders. But he crossed the line, allowing himself one statement that angered, for example, my father.

A person should understand that certain things need to be said more correctly and respected. And if he's ready, then when I arrive in Russia, I can personally tell him — not through the press, but in person. You don't have to tell reporters what you can't or won't say to their face. He has my number, and when I'm at home, he can tell me where he is, and I'll fly there myself and talk to him.

For me, the bitter truth has always been better than the sweet lie. When a coach tells me the truth to my face, I will always shake his hand and we will part on excellent terms. But when some things are said behind my back, and something else is said in my face, it's a completely different story for me.

— When Aris bought you out, was it psychologically difficult to realize that now you are officially no longer a Krasnodar player?

- no. Even when I was on the last two leases, I still figured in my head that I could leave the club. It's normal, it's part of football. But I still love the city and the team very much. And I wish them all the best.

Motya is a cool goalkeeper who can impose competition on Donnarumma.

— Who are you in touch with from Krasnodar?

— Of today's team, I often correspond only with Edik Spertsyan. Of those who were with me, they were with Vanya Ignatiev, Daniil Utkin, and sometimes with Motya Safonov, although I can't say that I often met him. In winter, I talked with Yura Gazinsky and Sasha Martynovich. Very, very cool guys, and thank you very much to them. When I first joined Krasnodar's first team, they helped. They did everything they could in response to any request. Very good, real men!

— How do you like Safonov's first season at PSG, in which, even as a second goalkeeper, he won everything and played 17 matches?

— I'm very happy for him. Excuse me, to leave Krasnodar for Paris, to a very big club, one of the favorites and, as it now turns out, the winner of the Champions League, to learn French from scratch and give interviews in it… He's a great goalkeeper and a smart guy.

— Did he really learn French from scratch?

— I didn't hear that he knew anything about it before he left. The way he adapted and played is a big plus for him and for Russian football, because at this level they will know that we have good players. The only thing I wish for him is that he goes out on the field more often. Of course, it's hard to compete with Donnarumma. But I know that Motya is a tough goalkeeper who can impose this competition.

"And win?"

"Maybe." To do this, he probably needs to tighten up his kicking game a little bit. Because that's the focus of European football right now. Especially when there is a Spanish coach in the team. At the same time, kicking is not Donnarumma's strong suit either. So Safonov has every chance!

— Few people expected that he would play so many matches in the first season.

"I wasn't thinking either. But he had good matches, cool saves, and deflected penalties. I think Luis Enrique sees that he has two very good goalkeepers.

— Do you think it will work for Spertsyan in Europe? Now that he's a champion, he's probably willing and able to leave.

— To be honest, I told him two years ago that we should leave. But this is my vision, I can't impose it on Eddie. I think he also wants to play in Europe, but the question is that this offer should suit the club, which has invested a lot in it. Spertsyan can perform at a high level, he has everything for it. The main thing is to take this step, but this issue is no longer in my competence.

— How did Ivan Ignatiev come to Algeria?

— I was a little surprised by this myself. He was doing well in Armenia, but Algeria apparently made the best offer. Plus there's the German coach he had at Lokomotiv. And the atmosphere there is very football—like - he showed me the local fans. He probably wanted to feel it — after all, there probably isn't such a thing in Yerevan.

Golden attraction: will Krasnodar be able to take away the championship from Zenit

The Southern club needs to beat Dynamo at home in order to break the hegemony of St. Petersburg.

— Can you imagine how you would react when the boys scored for Krasnodar if you were told that one of you would be playing in the USA in a few years and the other in Algeria?

— You see how life develops. Believe me, I know Vanya Ignatiev. And I'm sure he's no weaker than the strikers who are currently in the RPL. I can say this with absolute certainty. It was just a little bit difficult for him psychologically. The guy has a difficult fate, he lost his parents early. There was no father who could guide him properly, then his mother died, and this cannot but affect the person. And I don't doubt his football skills at all. How can he open up, kick with both feet, what a speed he has! If all this was used to the maximum, Vanya could still play even in the top clubs in Russia.

— Was it true that you once lived with Spertsyan, Ignatiev and other six graduates of the academy in a one-room apartment?

- no. I'm even surprised where this information came from. The three of us lived with Eddie and Vanya in a nice two-room apartment, which the club gave us after graduation from the academy. Krasnodar created the maximum conditions for the players who could, there was nothing to complain about at all. We had a wonderful life!

Then someone had a girlfriend, and they started leaving. You come to the main team, you can't invite your family there, where the three of you live. After that, they began to live separately. But I remember that time with pleasure.

After my career, I want to live at home, I love my country.

— Do you hope to play for the Bulls again someday?

"Maybe I'll come back someday." You never know how fate will turn out — how could I have imagined a year ago that I would be playing in America? The same Murad Olegovich, for example, worked in Azerbaijan after Krasnodar, then returned and shows excellent results. I have always said and still say: this is my club, which brought me up and to which I will always be grateful. You love your family and parents very much, but sometimes you may have conflicts with them. But time passes, and you solve them, right?

The way I left left a little residue inside me, I won't hide it. I still wonder what I did wrong and what actually happened there. I hope to find out one day. Just for myself. Not in the sense that I regret anything. Because when I returned from Turkey, I had other plans altogether.

— Are you generally satisfied with your career at the moment? Didn't you expect more from yourself?

— I am pleased that I managed to see and understand a lot from my own experience, and not from other people's stories. Now I am one of the few Russian football players who play abroad, and very few people have managed to play in the USA. Yes, I know that when I was at Krasnodar, there were conversations with clubs from the leading European championships. But our club had its own position, which he was entitled to. If the negotiations had been conducted in a slightly different way, I could have gone there.

"Where to?"

— I don't want to specify. And I won't complain either, I think it's wrong. It's God's will. So it was better for me. Maybe somewhere deep inside your ambitions they say that you would like to try yourself on another level, but as it is destined, so it happens. Everything that is done is for the best. I now have friends in many countries whom I can always call, and they will be happy to hear from me and see me. So, I think everything is fine.

— Is MLS a football decision or a life decision?

— Football. After my career, I want to live at home, I love my country. But now, while there is an opportunity to play in different countries, on different continents, we need to use it. Messi-level stars are coming here to America, and the World Cup is here next year. It's interesting to see such a league from the inside. I think when I finish playing, I'll have something to remember. And I will know that I am a happy person, because I had such an opportunity and I did not miss it.