8 Zenit transfer failures under Semak. Is Mario Fernandez the worst?
Anatoly Romanov July 25, 2024, 18:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
We choose the worst signing of a champion in six years.
Mario Fernandez’s departure from Zenit is one of the most discussed transfers in the summer window of the RPL. The former Russian national team player stayed with the St. Petersburg team for only one season. His signing will go down in history as a failure for the blue and white team. The biggest one under Sergei Semak, or have the champions made bigger mistakes in the market over the past six years?
Reaction to Fernandez’s departure from Zenit:
Mario Fernandez and Zenit, that’s all. But this transition is not a failure
Take part in the vote and name Zenit’s worst signing under Semak. We have selected eight major mistakes for the ranking, in our opinion. You also have the opportunity to choose another player. Share your opinion in the comments!
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Ranking: Which Zenit transfer was the worst under Semak?
Photo: Elena Razina, “Championship”
Claudio Marchisio, free agent
In the first transfer window under Semak, Zenit did not sign anyone, as the coach had to deal with an inflated squad. But after the window closed, Christian Noboa was seriously injured, so the club entered the free agent market in search of a newcomer. Marchisio seemed the best candidate. However, the former Juventus and Italian national team player was no longer the same. He basically came to St. Petersburg just to earn extra money for his pension. He played 15 games for Zenit, scored two goals (one of them from a penalty). I only remember the altercation with Semak after his substitution. After leaving Russia, he ended his career.
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Zelimkhan Bakaev, free agent
The transfer of a Spartak player to Zenit is always a high-profile event. Therefore, too much attention was paid to the signing of Bakaev, who in the summer of 2022 did not agree to a contract extension with the Red and Whites and left as a free agent. In reality, Zelimkhan was under Malkom’s command, but even after the Zenit star left for Saudi Arabia, Semak was of no use. In 34 games, he scored three goals and provided three assists. In September 2023, he unexpectedly agreed to a loan contract in the United Arab Emirates. Now he has returned and it is unclear where he will go next. The Zenit coach clearly does not count on Bakaev.
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Wilson Isidoro, 5.35 million euros
Izidor’s transfer in September 2023 was similar to Zenit’s attempt to sign at least one more or less strong attacking player after the loss of Malcolm, when all options with forwards/wingers failed. At Lokomotiv, the Frenchman scored a lot coming off the bench. The champions signed Izidor on loan with an obligation to buy under certain conditions, which, surprisingly, was fulfilled, although Wilson only scored two goals in 21 games for Zenit. They say that now in St. Petersburg they want to part with Izidor and are trying to place him somewhere. He still seems like a foreign body in the team’s game.
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Mario Fernandez, €365,000.
There was so much noise around the transfer of Fernandez to Zenit! The Russian Brazilian did not want to return to CSKA, as the Moscow club refused to pay this strange amount of 365 thousand euros for its former player (as if they had given out a thousand a day for a year), and made a decision in favor of St. Petersburg. There were doubts that Mario would be able to get Zenit out after the break. And, in general, they were confirmed. The 33-year-old defender tried hard, but his health is no longer good. Fernandez played 18 games for Zenit, did not show any statistical significance, got injured and now left as a free agent.
Photo: fc-zenit.ru
Do Queiroz, free agent
Do Queiroz officially joined Zenit for free, but in reality he was one of the elements in the exchange of a group of Corinthians players for the former striker Youri Alberto. But it quickly became clear that this midfielder was not at the same level as the Russian champion. Just six months later, the Brazilian was loaned to Gremio for 500 thousand euros. Do Queiroz played 16 games for Zenit and only made one effective move: scoring against Baltika in the Russian Cup. It would be nice if Gremio bought the midfielder, although even then he occasionally makes it into the starting eleven.
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Arsen Adamov, 5 million euros
Adamov made a name for himself in the Urals RPL, after which top Russian clubs became interested. Zenit came with the best offer. The champions paid perhaps too much money for a Russian player of an unproven level at that time, who also played in the central three. This did not guarantee that the newcomer would be just as good with a high defensive line and in the front four. Arsen did not get many opportunities against Zenit. He played 21 games, but only six as a starter. He made two assists. Then he started to be on loan.
Photo: Elena Razina, “Championship”
Alexander Kovalenko, 2 million euros
The Sochi midfielder came to Zenit as a promising Russian player and a newcomer to the national team. Kovalenko performed well at Krylya Sovetov, where the Sochi team kept him on loan. A fight broke out on the RPL market for Alexander and at the last moment Zenit got ahead of Lokomotiv. But in St. Petersburg, the midfielder could be said to have wasted a year. He took part in 14 matches for Semak’s team, but only started five times. His goal-scoring statistics include one assist. In general, it seems that Kovalenko will be offered a new lease or sale this summer.
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
Ilzat Akhmetov, 850 thousand euros.
Six months ago, Zenit took the former Russian national team player from their rivals in the fight for gold, Krasnodar. For the Bulls, Akhmetov was not an indispensable figure, but, as a rule, he was useful as a substitute. Apparently, Semak hoped that in his team Ilzat would strengthen his game from the bench. But for now, the coach, and with him the Zenit fans, remember the winter newcomer at the important holidays. Akhmetov played only six matches and started only four times in the Russian Cup. He did not take any effective action. Will he stay at Zenit for at least one more season?
Photo: “Championship”/fc-zenit.ru/RIA Novosti
The worst was another transfer under Semak.
If you think that the worst thing with Semak was some other transfer, then choose this option. Several more Zenit signings over these six years did not live up to expectations. In addition to Do Queiroz, assigned separately, talented defender Robert Renan and goalkeeper Ivan Quaresma (on loan) came as part of the exchange for Youri Alberto from Corinthians. But the first did not open up due to his youth and inexperience, and the second quickly returned to Brazil due to excess weight. At the same time, Renan is now Internacional’s main defender. Goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk also played worse than expected and, most importantly, broke down. After suffering a serious injury, he left the club. Did we forget anyone else?
