"I'm just going to conquer Madrid"
Egor Amosov's move to Real Madrid was one of the most unexpected offseason transfers in Russian sports. The 17-year-old graduate of Samara basketball has signed a contract with the royal club under the "1+1" scheme and may make his debut for the first team in the upcoming season. It's a good reason to get to know Egor better, who became the youngest player to play in VTB League matches, and last season played 20+ minutes for the Samaritans. In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, Egor talked about his interests, a new challenge, and thoughts about the NCAA.
"At my age, Luka had already won the Euroleague"
— How are you doing with your vacation this year, considering that you spent a long training camp with the U-20 team.
"It's all right. After the end of the club season, I took almost as much time off from training as possible, preparing for exams. Now, before the start of the season, I have another month to fully recover.
— What exams did you take?
— It's about the Unified State Exam. I have a phys.M. degree, so I took physics, mathematics, and Russian.
"Successful?"
— In general, it's fine. I would have passed on a budget.
— I hesitate to ask, why physical education?
— It's easy. Apparently, he has a technical mindset, he chose this direction in childhood.
— We were surprised. And what are your plans next?
— At the end of August, I plan to go to Real Madrid, if everything goes well. I started the pre-season with Samara, and we remained on good terms. They came to meet me at the club.
— Why not go to Real Madrid right away, if everything goes well again?
— It starts later for them.
— I see. Was your contract with Samara valid for two more years? Were the negotiations easy?
— A little wrong. In March 2025, I re-signed the contract [with the new legal entity of the Samara club] for three months. So he became a free agent at the end of the season.
— Could you explain why you decided to leave Samara?
— I just wanted to change the situation. I've been at the base of Samara for three years now, I wanted something new.
— We recently had a big interview with Roman Semerninov. The coach of the U-20 national team spoke very complimentfully about you and even compared you to Luka Doncic. How do you feel about this?
— Calm down. I can't predict how my career will turn out. It is necessary to justify the advances, train a lot and show results. As for Doncic, Luka already won the Euroleague at my age, and I'm just going to conquer Madrid.
— The coach also said that he advised you to stay at Samara for another season.
— To be honest, I don't remember such a conversation in person. He didn't know that I was planning to move to Real Madrid. No one knew. I kept it a secret so that everything would take its course.
— Were you the youngest in the U-20 national team?
— Yes, that's right. I'm used to this, it's been the case in almost all my teams.
— Was the gathering useful?
— Last year, although we went to Serbia, there were few test matches. We played only with the Angolan adult national team. This time we played matches with guys our age. Good experience and level of organization from the RFB. It was especially pleasant to face Serbia and Slovenia. Last year, both of these teams were winners of the European Championship. Plus a good coaching staff. It's not the first time we've met them at training camps. Good attitude, interesting training process. I learned some new things, I realized in which direction I need to move.
— Who would be singled out from the partners?
— We can say that in every game we had a new leader. Egor Evstafyev played an important role in one of the matches, and Daniil Stolbetsky looked great in the final ones. No one can be singled out, everyone has made their contribution. Well done, everyone.
"I like playing number two the most"
— Stolbetsky has been playing in Spain since 2022. Did he share some kind of life hack with you before the upcoming move? Or have you known each other for a long time?
— We only talked in the national team. We didn't talk much about Spain, I just asked how the training process was going, what were the features.
— What do you think about him?
— A trained center with a steady shot. I think he's ready to play at an adult level, then everything depends on him.
— They say that you can play from number one to number four. And which position is closest to you?
— I like playing on the deuce the most. Play pick-and-rolls, throw in good situations, give passes.
— Do you like to "eat"?
"Mostly not.
— Which do you value more: a good shot or a good pass?
— (after a pause) I'll choose a show.
— Ilya Frolov and Vadim Vorontsov from Russia played in the Real Madrid system last season. Have you talked to them?
— There is no contact with Frolov, but we will have a conversation in the near future. I've known Vadim since childhood, and we've trained together a lot.
— What would you say about Vorontsov, who became the youngest foreigner in the Madrid club system?
— To be honest, I didn't follow his career very closely in Madrid. But once a person has gained a foothold in Real Madrid, it means that he has a good level.
— And you haven't talked to Egor Demin yet?
— I haven't had a chance yet.
— How would you rate your 2024/25 season at Samara?
— It turned out to be a good season for me personally. I played a lot at a high level, gained experience against strong foreigners. So this is one of the best periods of my career so far. I think we managed to show our best side and gain important experience.
— Did you like the format of the United League regular season in four rounds?
— As for me, it's great. The more matches, the better. After all, I was still playing in the youth team, so I had enough game practice.
— Do you think the level of the tournament is decreasing?
— It's hard to say. I'm just getting used to adult basketball myself, so I can't competently assess the League level.
— Who would be singled out from the foreign players in the United League?
— My former partner Marcos Knight. When Marcos was at Samara, he was kind to me, he gave me a lot of tips. Plus, of course, his stability and desire to constantly put pressure are impressive.
— Was it hard to resist him in training?
"I wasn't the one holding it, mostly. But if necessary, we had good confrontations.
"The preseason is supposed to take place with the main Real Madrid team
— Who do you like from Russians?
— Misha Bielenitsky. He has a good defense.
— Was any of the local players your role model?
- no. I don't watch basketball very often. Not in childhood, not now. I prefer not to watch, but to participate in the process.
— Are there any childhood photos left with one of our legends?
— Andrey Kirilenko came to the Mini-basket festival to award us. A photo of him has been preserved.
— Are you watching the United League and Euroleague?
— I'm watching the main matches — the playoffs, the final series. There is almost no regular schedule. Only when we analyze the opponent, in order to know what to expect from the opponents. In the Euroleague, I've only seen some matches from last season. I like the quality of basketball there, but I spend more of my free time studying in the evening.
— Do you watch the NBA games?
— I only watched the final episode. I've been monitoring the results throughout the season.
— Did Oklahoma naturally win the championship?
— If it hadn't been for Haliburton's injury, Indiana could have struggled in the seventh game. But in general, Oklahoma looked like a more balanced team, showed a good game.
— Is there only a game planned in Madrid, or is there also a study?
— I will develop myself, learn languages. But in general, the focus is on basketball.
— And admission to the institute?
- no.
— Did you go to see the conditions and talk to the Real Madrid management?
— No, everything was remote.
— Have NCAA teams been interested in you this summer?
— Yes, there was interest. However, I decided that I still need to play a season in Europe before trying my hand in the USA.
— Could you specify the name of the colleges?
— It is incorrect to talk about names now, but these were strong teams from top conferences.
— And as for the Russian top clubs?
— There were negotiations with them. But the idea of a change of scenery immediately popped into my head. Until the very last moment, we considered the option of staying in the United League for another season, but still the option in Europe outweighed.
— If all the cards come together, will you mainly play for the Real Madrid youth team?
— The preseason is supposed to take place with the main team. And get the main minutes in the U-22 and U-18 teams. The U-22 team tournament is an analogue of the United Youth League.
— Do you have an understanding of the level of the Spanish youth team?
— No, I'll get to know him as I go. Teammates? I didn't bother my head with that. As far as I know, the line-up has been seriously updated. I'll get to know everyone on arrival.
— Is there an understanding of where housing is planned?
— I was told that when I arrive, I will settle at the club's base. All the players of the club's youth team live there.
— Was there a conversation with Sergio Scariolo, the new head coach of the foundation? With the U-22 coach?
— I haven't talked to anyone, just the agents.
"K.C. Rivers gave me individual workouts"
— You participated in the overhead shooting competition at the VTB United League All-Star Game. How would you rate your dunks and the organization of the MVZ?
— The atmosphere was cool. I talked to many players, one might say, new legends of Russian basketball. As for the dunks, I could have shown a higher level, but in any case, I'm happy that I was a participant in the contest, I tried to score beautifully with full stands.
— Which dunk do you remember the most?
— I wanted someone to score from under my feet, but no one did it in this dunk contest.
— Did you succeed in training?
— It happened a couple of times, but at the dunk contest I wasn't in shape to score like that.
— Is there a favorite dunker?
— Jordan Kilganon (Canadian professional dunker. — Ed.). He has a very rich arsenal of overhead shots. Everything I watched him perform looked very beautiful.
— The best dunk of his performance?
— "Scorpion", when he jumps over four people.
— Who are your favorite NBA players?
— Now Ja Morant and Luka Doncic.
— During your three years at Samara, who did you learn something from? Except for the already mentioned Knight.
— Someone suggested more, someone less. In the first season, K.C. Rivers gave a lot. He sometimes stayed after the main class and gave me workouts. The last two seasons — Misha Kulagin. I got a lot of useful tips from him.
— Do you remember your debut in the VTB League at the age of 15 years and 63 days?
— I remember that I played against Yenisei.
— How was it?
— I was told that I was going to leave the base and would be out for a while. As a result, I played 1:13 and got one foul. He fouled out in a fast break.
— Sergey Bazarevich gave you this opportunity. Are you grateful to him?
- of course. At least for putting the basics into training. Sergey Valerianovich said: "Egor, come, it's time to train with us," and at the end of the season he trusted to go to the playground. To show at least a little of what I can do.
"I dream of buying a house in Russia"
— Who was your first coach?
— Yuri Sergeevich Dobrynin.
— Are you in touch with him?
— We don't communicate closely. But I know that he's coaching at Samara and he's doing well.
— What are your personal goals for Real Madrid?
— Show yourself well and learn something new. More specifically, I would like to gain a foothold in the base and play the whole season there. But I don't want to guess.
— And why Real Madrid? Not a conditional Barcelona?
— A good club system. Yes, and I like the Madrid club more because a lot of strong players have come out of it in recent years. The same Doncic, Egor Demin, went under a high peak, having passed the Real Madrid system. Hugo Gonzalez was selected in the first round of the draft.
— How do you rate the eighth peak for Demin?
—A good one. For some reason, I thought he would be ranked in the top 10.
— Are you watching the Summer League with Vlad Goldin and Demin?
— Only highlights.
— Does your contract with Real Madrid include a salary?
— Yes, of course.
— Can we announce the amount?
— This is confidential information.
— What will you buy for your potential first Madrid salary?
— I will postpone, as always.
— Is there a material dream?
— Buy a house in Russia.
— What role do parents play in your career?
— They always support me. I signed my first contract with Samara without agents. They prompted, gave advice.
— And how did they react to the choice in favor of Real Madrid?
— They said it was a good choice, an interesting change of scenery. My parents want me to be independent, and they give me a choice.
— Ask the fans, who will follow you in Spain?
— I will try not to let my hometown down and show that Samara taught me how to play at the level of Real Madrid.
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