Mario Fernandez and Zenit, that’s all. But this transition is not a failure
Dmitry Zimin July 23, 2024, 20:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The defender leaves because they did not agree on the terms.
Mario Fernandez has been with Zenit for just over a year. On July 17, 2023, it was announced in St. Petersburg that the player had bought out his contract from Internacional and signed a 1+1 deal. You remember well what started then. According to his reputation, it was a bad deal: Mario was immediately declared a hoarder and traitor, and the reigning champions were accused of snitching. At the same time, the Brazilian Russian was talking to CSKA about a possible return. Nobody, as always, wanted to go into details and listen to different opinions. The acceptable image was hammered into people’s heads and Mario started playing. Although it didn’t always work out.
It is true that he started well: at the beginning of last season Vyacheslav Karavaev had problems, so Fernandez got a lot of playing time. At the same time, there is a paradox: during the year in St. Petersburg he played 0 full matches. He always came on as a substitute or was substituted in the 60-70th minute. Mario himself explained it simply: lack of rates. And at the beginning of October, the defender also got injured, leaving almost until the end of the first part of the season.
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At the same time, an important detail: in 10 matches in the RPL in the fall, Fernandez not only did not fall, but, on the contrary, was confident. But to be more precise, he regularly fulfilled his main task. In defense – reliability and power, and in attacks – rushing forward, fighting on horseback and giving a discount to your neighbor. According to the figures, more than 60% of fights won, and in his own half – more than 70%. 14.2 ball returns and more than five fights won in the second floor in 90 minutes. It is unlikely that the coaches can have any complaints. The footballer did what was asked of him.
I remember well how actively Mario worked in the winter. He spoke of the importance of the first full training camp with the team and of full preparation for the restart. He started as a starter, but in the third game of the spring he suffered a new injury. And it did not allow me to play until the end of the season.
Mario Fernandez and Sergey Semak
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
In fact, I even feel sorry for him to some extent. The guy really wanted to revive his career. And, as we saw, he could do it even at the Zenit level. But two injuries simply did not allow this to happen. However, his decision to refuse to renew his contract was truly surprising. No, the St. Petersburg team did not expel the defender. Mario’s agent himself admitted that the parties did not agree on personal terms. Metaratings adds that Zenit offered to reduce his salary by 2 million euros a year, but he refused. Although it is a bit strange, considering that even a recovered Mario is unlikely to be the main character of the new season.
Now I wonder what’s next. Apparently, Fernandez wants to stay in Russia. And preferably on good financial terms. This means that the path is only to elite clubs. Spartak doesn’t seem to need him, CSKA in principle won’t take him. That leaves Dynamo and Krasnodar. Maybe Mario will look there too?
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After all, you don’t want to end your career when the brightest moment of last year was running off the bench to celebrate a goal in the match against CSKA. Fernandez did help Zenit a lot, though. Even if it wasn’t as originally expected.
