Douglas Santos has not yet become a Russian citizen. For this, some formalities remain to be fulfilled. Today Vladimir Putin issued a decree on “admission to citizenship”, where the name of the Zenit captain appeared.
Journalist Ivan Karpov was the first to report this. He said Douglas could play for the Russian national team and would no longer be considered a foreign player in the RPL. His words were later refuted by sports lawyer Mikhail Prokopets, pointing out that obtaining a passport does not amount to a change of sports citizenship, which, according to his initial words, was impossible. However, Prokopets later admitted the mistake. And he stated that the footballer could still stop being a foreign player in Russia.
Which foreign footballers have already changed their citizenship:
Foreigners who became Russians. Some for love and others for limits.
How did Santos decide to change his citizenship?
According to the championship, Zenit suggested that Douglas think about regaining his Russian passport in the summer. Right at that moment it was five years since the player’s transfer to the club and, therefore, his residence in Russia. This fact opened legal prospects for obtaining not only a passport, but also changing sports citizenship.
Douglas considered the offer and agreed. First of all, for bureaucratic conveniences, because you will not have to worry about a work visa and other issues. Secondly, he understood well that he could help the Club if he stopped being a foreign player. At the same time, Zenit offered him a new contract until 2028, probably related stories.
Douglas Santos
Photo: Elena Razina, “Championship”
So, when will Santos stop being a foreign player?
This is the most pressing question. It is important to understand: the presidential decree did not automatically make the player a Russian citizen. It will become such only after receiving the passport, and this will certainly take several weeks. Let’s assume Douglas receives it in mid-November. But it is possible that he will immediately cease to be a legionnaire.
After all, the RFU and Zenit will have to consult with FIFA about changing the player’s sporting citizenship. The club has already announced it. However, according to our information, we can talk about several months of work. So, under the most optimistic circumstances, Douglas will cease to be a foreign player on the field (but in any case will remain one in the application) by the spring of next year.
What about the Russian team?
If he changes his sporting nationality, Douglas will also be able to join the Russian national team. But this step is not the main motivation for the 30-year-old player. And Valery Karpin has not yet responded to this news. Or rather, they asked the coach about it, but his attitude was expressed in two words: “Not yet.”
Valery Karpin
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
At the same time, it is important to remember the principle of the head coach: he does not see much point in calling up players over 30 years old (although there are exceptions here). Douglas will turn 31 in March.
The oldest debutants in the RPL:
Debuting in the RPL at the age of 34 is not the limit. In XXI there were 8 league debutants older than Pjanic
Does anyone besides Zenit offer foreigners to change their citizenship?
It just so happens that in recent years Zenit is almost the only club that really deals with this problem. In 2023, Malk and Claudinho became Russian citizens, although the latter is now considered a foreign player in the squad and on the field. It is curious that during the same period Spartak sent documents to Quincy Promes (there were even three players on the same list), but the Ministry of Sports refused to consider the issue due to the fact that the player at that time already had two criminal records in the Netherlands.
Malcolm and Claudinho
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
A year ago, the then sports director of Orenburg, Dmitry Andreev, said that three players of the club wanted to obtain Russian citizenship: Pérez, Mansilla and Vera. But since then there has been no information on progress on the issue.
