One of the forwards of the Russian national team
Roman Pavlyuchenko spoke to Sport Express about his future prior to the
World Cup-2010 play-offs against Slovenia.
Roman Pavlyuchenko Photo SPORT EXPRESS
"I heard the rumors that Zenit made an offer to Tottenham
to purchase me," commented the striker whose club's future is vague
at the moment.
"I know nothing about it. Moreover I spoke to my agent Oleg Artemov
this morning and he also does not know about it and the management of
Tottenham said that there is no such offer."
"Though clubs are interested in my services and I can say very interested
indeed."
"I would not give names now and in this situation the only worrying
factor is the future asked price of the English club. Exactly that will
determine what offers will remain."
"I am afraid that the price our management keeps in mind will deter
many would-be buyers. So we will negotiate and try to make them reduce
the price."
"Russia, Germany and England express their interest to me but the
British variants almost all concern loan and I think that would not do
both for the club and me."
"I heard talks about Spanish and Italian clubs but I am speaking
only about the alternatives I know for sure."
"I want surely to leave the club. It is impossible to remain there
under the circumstances I find myself in. I have been sitting on the subs'
bench for half a year and as a result lost a place in the starting eleven
of the national team."
"And now hopefully we will get to the World Cup - who can rely on
a forward without playing practice? I want to play and not just furbish
the bench."
"Immediately after the games with Slovenia my agent and I are flying
to London for purposeful negotiations and I want to take part in them
personally. I will ask the management to quote a reasonable price for
me."
"Our coach Harry Redknapp does not talk to me on the matter. At the
start of the season our coach said that four forwards is exactly the optimal
number but now he states that three is enough."
"And I am the fourth one so it is obvious that I should part with
the club. The only thing that can stand in the way is unmanageable price."
"But I will insist on leaving. More important now is to reach a compromise
that we will be suitable for the club and me, my future club."
"I have discussed the question in the family where we would better
leave - in Russia, Germany or somewhere else and decided that if there
are interesting offers in Russia I will accept it. The reason is that
had I gone to Germany or Spain for example I would lose the first year
for adaptation but it is not good at my age."
"Actually I do not think that the coming play-off matches will somehow
determine anything in my career. After all the process is going on and
all the clubs interested in me knows everything."
"On the one hand the play-offs are emotionally coloured and on the
other hand we do not know Slovenia."
"After the draw I started recalling whom I know playing for the Slovenian
national squad and understood that only Radoslavlevic is familiar to me
while others are complete wild cards."
"Of course we will learn everything about their team in due time
but at present it is a mystery that make us worry. In this situation we
cannot underestimate the opponent."
"No one thinks about losses. We must get a sound margin at home,
at Luzhniki - two or more goals at least so that in Maribor we feel comfortable.
And the main condition to achieve it is to convert our chances well."
