on Wednesday the football club “Krasnodar” officially announced the signing of now former player Petersburg “Zenith” Igor Smolnikov. According to the press service of the bulls, the defender will play for the southerners under the number 28.
“To date, all formalities are settled. Igor Smolnikov has signed with FC Krasnodar a two-year contract with an option to extend for another season, which will come into force on 1 August 2020,” – said in the message.
representatives of the “black-green” emphasize that the career of Igor was the rapid development in the “Krasnodar”, in which he came in the summer of 2012. The defender played for the bulls ‘ 31 games, entrenched in the starting lineup, and about a year later was bought by the St. Petersburg “Zenith”. In 2013, the year he made his debut in the main team of Russia.
The “Zenith” Smolnikov became the triple champion of Russia, won the Russian Cup, held dozens of matches in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. However, in the summer of 2020 the term of his employment agreement with the Petersburg club has expired, and the defender as a free agent returned to the “Krasnodar”.
8 Aug Igor Smolnikova will be 32 years. In national team he played 29 matches and was a member of the European championship 2016 in France, FIFA confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 world Cup in Russia.
“Blue and white” thank Igor Smolnikov for the dedication throughout all seven years at Zenit, and I wish you success in your future career!”, reads the information given today on the website of FC “Zenit”. – In the blue-white-blue Smolnikov has played 200 matches and scored 10 goals and gave 11 assists”.
As already told “RG”, Smolnikov able to strengthen the team Kuban, which will soon start in the championship and participation in the qualifying tournament for the right to enter the group stage of the Champions League. To that in Krasnodar there is a clear shortage of full-backs, and Igor is able to act on both flanks.
