Malcom is an Al-Hilal player. This is a record sale in the history of the LPR: St. Petersburg will receive around €60 million. For the reigning champion, this is definitely a victory. Transfer costs have been recovered (in the summer of 2019, 40 million euros flew to Barça + an unknown part, but barely more subsidized), we will not speculate on salaries with fictitious figures. There is too much different information, from €3.5-5 million to €7-8 million per year. If we are looking for the truth in the middle, then the club also decently blocked this money. But it’s important: under Malcolm they won four championships, the same number of Super Cups and even won the Champions League group match once.
Now is the best time to reflect on these four years. What did Malcolm give Zenit? Can we call him the club’s best player in recent years? What will they say about the Brazilian, who a couple of weeks ago told reporters “I am Russian”, in the future?
Read more about Malcolm’s final year in the LPR:
“It was horrible and maddening.” Malcolm surpassed himself and became the best player in the RPL
Malcolm’s first two seasons = injuries. The player was criticized, and the Brazilian missed home.
The future four-time champion of Russia arrived in St. Petersburg in the summer of 2019. A separate presentation, a stylish contract and a great belief in potential. At the time, Zenit was only discussing cooperation options with Barca, so Malcom probably became one of the components of this story. It wasn’t for nothing that he was intercepted by Tottenham, Milan and Everton, who also showed interest.
Malcolm in Barcelona
Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images
In terms of status, this transfer was very similar to the transfer of Hulk. Players of similar positions, of the same nationality and potential stars of European football. With only one difference, Hulk went to Russia in the main uniform, Malcom, from the Catalan bench. But the magic of the Barça brand was still working too well at the time.
That Malcolm is not the Hulk, everyone realized two weeks after the debut. The newcomer suffered an unexpected injury, having played only two incomplete matches. And he retired before the end of the year. That is, he missed all the matches of the group stage of the Champions League, and it was because of her that the player was bought.
At first, he was treated conservatively in St. Petersburg. But it didn’t help. After that, the boy was sent to Finland for surgery. Due to the details of the injury, he damaged the tendon, which plays a key role in the motor function of the left leg (proximal muscle-tendon junction of the rectus muscle of the left thigh), the operation and, consequently, rehabilitation proved to be difficult. Since mid-October, he spent almost every day at the base. And here he definitely owes a lot to the club’s physiotherapists and rehabilitation therapists, who were able to return the future leader to football after such a rare injury.
This is how Malcolm himself remembered that period for Sports.ru.
Malcolm
Zenit striker
“Being without football for a long time was terrible. Thanks to my family, almost immediately after the first injury, after the operation, he came to St. Petersburg to distract himself from everything that occupied my head. This was partially successful, although it was still incredibly difficult. Every day I would come to the base, go into the locker room and watch the boys put on their boots. At this point, I was putting on my sneakers to go to treatments. Then I saw how they were going before training, of course, I really wanted to join them, but I couldn’t. It was maddening. The hardest part was coming to the stadium to watch a game I couldn’t play in. I never watched the game: the first half, a piece of the second. Then he covered himself in sweat and went home.
In the spring, Malcolm played most of the matches. But two things were surprising: the discomfort after six months without football and the realization that he was still a stranger to his teammates. 4+1 in 12 matches didn’t really help Zenit: the team, even without the most expensive player, took the title.
It seemed that the New season was a time to prove yourself. Full summer training camps, close integration into the team: what else is needed to progress? But again, the trauma did not allow the ideal scenario to become a reality. This time, damage to the lateral ligament of the knee joint. Everything could have ended in “crosses”, but the Brazilian was lucky, he went out lightly. Admittedly, this is definitely not any easier for Zenit: Malcom missed the first three rounds of the Champions League group stage, in which the blue-white-blue scored just one point, drawing with Lazio. However, it did not improve with the Brazilian in the team: three defeats in a row and a logical fourth place.
Malcom in the match between Zenit and Lazio
Photo: fc-zenit.ru
In the RPL, the boy did not shine either: 3 + 4 in 21 games. Not at all the numbers Semak and the leadership wanted to see. Yes, there was someone to score at that Zenit, but not to say that Malcom was very helpful. At some point, even the head coach couldn’t hold back: “A player of his level should score and assist even more, because the fans expect a brighter game from him. I mean the benefits for the team.”
An important point is that during this period, Malcolm was not frightened, did not get irritated, and did not require attention. Over the years, he has strived to maintain a very kind atmosphere, for which he has earned the respect of the team. He remembers how Artem Dzyuba himself treated him and constantly joked about him. That is, one way or another, it became his. And the status of the most expensive football player did not manifest itself in any way in behavior.
However, in his first two seasons at Zenit, Malcom missed 34 games. Only seven per season at Barça. Eloquent figures from the first half of the Russian career.
Malcolm’s main figures are:
Malcolm’s main statistics at Zenit. No goals in the Champions League, but with trophies and passport
Malcolm’s Rebirth: How and How He Changed
It seemed that Zenit needed to get rid of the player at all costs. Especially while he was remembered in Europe. But in 2021, no one would have given an amount close to 40 million euros, even the price of Transfermarkt has been reduced by almost half. Decision? He still believes in Brazilian. And, at the same time, in a miracle.
The third season in Russia is a step forward. Finally, the injuries are over, and the player has run six games in the Champions League. Even a victory over Malmö in St. Petersburg. It is true that the Brazilian did not reach serious effective actions: only one goal in the last meeting with Chelsea. But also thanks to this, Peter played a draw and received additional funding from UEFA.
Malcom in the match between Zenit and Chelsea
Photo: fc-zenit.ru
It was evident that Malcolm was now completely his. The transfer of his close friend, Claudinho, also played a plus. The pair were creative in attack, gradually forcing them to forget about the duo of Dzyuba and Azmoun. At the same time, autumn from the point of view of the “goal + pass” system for the Brazilian again turned out to be a disaster: 2 + 1, but spring – 6 + 6. It is already a level. It turns out that only after 2.5 seasons, the Brazilian began to benefit not only from his image, but also from effective actions. The first time really helped fly to the championship.
Well, what happened in Malcolm’s fourth (and final) season in Russia, you know. The best player, the best in “goal + pass” and simply the best. It is paradoxical that the Brazilian revealed himself until the end in the first full season of Russia in isolation. Although the club definitely had a different result.
Malcolm
Zenit striker
“I’m having my best season at Zenit. And possibly the best of his career. I feel great. I feel that my body has improved, now it is in perfect shape. This is reflected in the statistics. First of all, we are talking about nutrition. I carefully reviewed my diet. I have specialists who help with this. As soon as he began to eat differently, the body reacted to this. I felt lighter, faster, more resilient. I also started to recover differently. About eight months ago, I had a personal physical therapist. It helps to think about the plan of all work. This combination, nutriThe more recovery took a sharp leap in development.
But the main thing is a happy ending. Zenit sold Malcom for 60 million euros, yes, not at PSG, which was talked about in winter. But the French definitely would not have paid such an amount to the Russian club. The Brazilian is going to Saudi Arabia and will definitely spend a couple of years there.
Malcolm’s winter interview with the Championship:
Exclusive
“I don’t think the opportunity to go to PSG is rare.” Malcolm for the first time told why he did not leave Zenit
Malcom is unlikely to remain in the memory of Zenit fans as a legend. And comparisons to the Hulk are now definitely inappropriate. The first two and a half seasons proved to be too fruitless. But for at least two championships, good nature and smiles will definitely be grateful to him.
