Choosing a position: where to continue Matvey Safonov's career

The other day, the Turkish media agitated our information space with transfer rumors about Matvey Safonov. According to journalist Ertem Schenner, the goalkeeper of the Russian national football team has attracted the attention of Galatasaray and Bournemouth. The source did not provide further details, and more reputable media outlets did not confirm the information. So these are just rumors, there is no question of any specific interest of these clubs.

However, the very fact of interest may be true, if only because both clubs have said goodbye to the main goalkeepers. Galatasaray legend Fernando Muslera left after 14 years at the club, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was at Bournemouth on loan, returned to Chelsea and is now close to joining Arsenal.

Both goalkeepers were untouchable starting line-up players, so it's unlikely Galatasaray or Bournemouth will entrust the first number to one of their remaining goalkeepers - the class difference is too great. And Safonov looks like an interesting option.

Matvey is only 26 years old — in the absence of injuries, he still has eight or nine years of a high-level career, maybe more. And now we have an incredible season at PSG, in which the goalkeeper won everything: the championship, the cup, the Super Cup and the Champions League.

Yes, Safonov was not the main one, but it cannot be said that he won all the trophies on the bench. Even this is not true in fact: in the French Cup, Matthew played five of the six matches, including the final. There were fewer chances in the league and Champions League, but the final 17 games in the debut season is a decent result. Do not forget that we are talking about the level of one of the best clubs in the world with one of the strongest goalkeepers in Europe, Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Donnarumma has been at PSG for four years now. During this period, he shone not only in the Paris club, but also in the Italian national team. The goalkeeper was named the best player of Euro 2021 for his stunning saves that helped the Italians take the trophy. It's not easy to compete with such a giant, but the first season together showed that it's possible.

Sometimes Gianluigi makes mistakes and plays uncertainly with his feet, which is important for modern football coach Luis Enrique. Plus, the Italian's contract expires in a year. Negotiations are underway, but there is no agreement yet, and some media outlets wrote about disagreements between the parties regarding salaries.

Donnarumma's possible departure does not guarantee Safonov a place at the base: PSG can afford to buy almost any goalkeeper in the world. But Matvey has shown that he is ready to fight even with the best.

Joining 90% of the world's clubs will be a step down for Safonov in terms of status. In Paris, every season you can fight for victory in all tournaments — there are few teams with such ambitions. Another point: the prospects for growth as a goalkeeper. At such a high level, with such a competitor in the person of Donnarumma, there is an opportunity to make powerful progress. In April, Matvey shared his feelings on his telegram channel: "At a high level, the little things are important, and I feel like I'm improving in many aspects of playing in goal."

Of course, it is important to play a lot for further progress, and this is an argument in favor of going on loan or a full-fledged transfer. At Galatasaray, Matvey will have the opportunity to become a key player, win trophies in Turkey and play in the Champions League. And in the case of a transfer to Bournemouth, he will even get into the most competitive league in the world, much stronger than the French championship, and will be able to attract the attention of English grandees.

— Playing in the Premier League is a blessing. It's the best league in the world right now. It's impossible to compare it with anything yet," former Manchester United midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis told SE. — It will be great to play in such a championship. He'll probably have a better chance of being number one at Bournemouth.

Perhaps it will be a step back for the two to move forward. Matvey will be able to establish himself as the main one at a solid level, prove himself and come to the top club with an eye on a place in the starting lineup.

— If there is such an opportunity, he needs to leave. He will play there, but he is in reserve at PSG," advised Alexander Mostovoy in a conversation with SE. — Yes, he won everything, but they still understand that Donnarumma is number one. One of the best goalkeepers in the world. If you want to get trophies and just sit there, you can stay. But I think he still wants to play.

Unfortunately, Safonov's position at PSG may also be affected by a political factor. The Parisian club has shown interest in Bournemouth's Ukrainian defender Ilya Zabarny throughout the season, and is now as close as possible to signing him. The transfer was confirmed by a reputable insider Fabrizio Romano.

In January, L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi reported that Zabarny is not concerned about the fact that Matvey is from Russia, he is worried about the possible public reaction to their interactions.:

"It's not so much that Safonov is a Russian, but that Zabarny thinks: "I'm a defender, and he's a goalkeeper. In other words, our positions are very closely linked on the field. I don't want the problems, if they ever arise, to come down to the fact that I'm Ukrainian and he's Russian."

None of the players, their representatives or clubs commented on the situation. It remains to be hoped that this moment will not have a detrimental effect on Safonov's career.