Who are the most valuable players in the Russian League?
The Russian 2021-22 top-flight season kickstart last weekend with the match between Rostov and Dynamo Moscow setting us up for the new season.
The Russian premier league may not be the best in the world in terms of the rating and riches in terms of the television right and other deals. However, that doesn’t mean the league isn’t attractive enough for top European’s players to come ply their trade in Russia
1O Most Valuable Players In Russian League
- Nikola Vlasic – (CSKA Moscow, €30m)
Croatia national team is synonymous with producing youngsters who have gone on to become superstars in the past such as Davor Suker, Boban, and Luca Modric who is still playing actively.
With that in mind, the 23-year-old Croatian has been able to prove that his one of the best legs representing his country away from home in the Russian league.
Vlasic is the most valuable player in the top-flight league having joined the Red-blue from Everton in 2019 permanently for €15m. Since he joined the Russian giant he’s been one of their best players and arguably one of the finest in the Russian League due to his consistent performances that makes Europe’s top team sought after him.
- Sardar Azmoun – (Zenit St Petersburg, €25m)
When Sky Blue sold Leandro Parades to Paris Saint Germain for €40m in 2019, it was important for them to fill the vacuum the Argentine left behind. As such they invested the money they got from the Parisian on some players and amongst those brought in was the Iranian forward Azmoun from Rubin Kazan.
Azmoun’s stint with Rubin wasn’t really a brilliant one but surprisingly Zenit came to his rescue in 2019 by pricing him away to the Krestovsky stadium.
Since joining Zenit, the Iranian has been one of Sky Blue’s best players and for a fact, he was Zenit’s best player in the second half of the season with commendable performances.
- Malcom Filipe Silva – (Zenit St Petersburg, €22m)
The Brazilian forward has been able to establish himself as a regular starter with the Russian giant having gone through a terrible stint with Barcelona when he joined the Catalan side from Bordeaux in 2018.
You cannot list out Zenit’s top five players and also the finest players in the Russian league without including the former Barca forward because of how he’s been able to improve the attacking potency of the team.
Malcom current value is worth €22m and as such, any team after the Brazilian would cough out nothing less than €35 to €40m because of how he’s been able to widen his horizon with consistent display for Zenit, which is good for his confidence and the club as he keeps knocking on the doors of more success in the Russian League and Europe.
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- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – (Rubin Kazan, €18m)
Georgia is not known to be one of the powerhouses when talking about the top twenty footballing nations. However, they’ve been able to produce brilliant players such as Kakha Kaladze who went on to achieved success with Europe’s top club.
Some football aficionados may not really know or hear about the 20-year-old Georgian sensation who plies his trade in Russia with Rubin Kazan, but truly with his trajectory as a young player is fast becoming one of the most sought after Georgian having won the ‘Georgian Footballer of the Year’ in 2020.
- Wilmar Barrios – (Zenit St Petersburg, €18m)
As expected, another fantastic Zenit top player found his way into the list of most valuable players in the Russian League. The Argentine midfielder was brought in from Boca Juniors following the departure of his countryman Leandro Parades to France.
The former Boca defensive midfielder has been a mainstay in the team since joining, churning out impressive performances consistently which has germinated into Zenit conceding fewer goals in the league when he plays as a defensive pivot midfielder.
With €18m as his market value, obviously, the Russian giant would cash out big on him should any team come for his signature just like they did with his fellow countryman.
- Marcus Wendel – (Zenit St Petersburg, €17m)
The domination of this list by Zenit players shouldn’t come as a surprise, the team is one of the most successful clubs in Russia, and the fact that they won the league last season it’s a pointer to why their players have dominated the list.
Wendel another brilliant player for Zenit sits pretty comfortably in the sixth position, with a decent market value of €17m that certainly has the potential to outgrown the current value should he continue to show top-notch display for his team.
- Douglas Santos – (Zenit St Petersburg, €16m)
Brazilian players are known to often blossom when they move to play in the Russian or Ukrainian league and some of the names that easily come to mind are Willian, Fernandinho, Hulk to mention a few and as for Santos, the case isn’t different.
Santos moved to Zenit from SV Hamburger in 2019 from the back of an impressive performance for the German team, and the fact that they failed to achieve promotion from the Bundesliga 2 to the topflight league fueled his move to the Sky Blue side, and he has since grown his career in Russia.
- Mario Fernandes – (CSKA Moscow, €16m)
Brazilian-born Russia international Fernandes also make the list. The 30-year-old right-back has been playing his football with the Moscow team since 2012 having joined from Gremio.
The defender is no doubt one of the best in his position in the league having continuously shown he is dependable and proficient.
The wing-back may not really interest some top teams who prefer younger players in his position, however, he still has enough gas in him to play for a decent side should he move away from the Russian giant whom he’s been playing for since 2012.
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- Jordan Larsson – (Spartak Moscow, €15m)
When you hear the name Larsson what name comes to your mind? The name that would probably come to mind is former Barcelona forward Henrik Larsson who also had an illustrious career with Scottish champions Celtic.
Ironically Jordan is the son of the former forward who is currently playing his football in Russia and his market value is worth €15m.
Larsson may not be as excellent and talented as his father was, but he’s gradually carving out an impressive career for himself in Russia with Spartak Moscow.
Interestingly, with age still very much on his side, he might be fortunate enough to achieve what his father achieved with Barcelona and especially Celtic.
- Quincy Promes – (Spartak Moscow, €15m)
To say Promes is a fan’s favorite at Spartak Moscow is an understatement, the Muscovites are known to be very skeptical of a new player who recently signs for the club. However, in Promes’ case, the former Ajax winger shone beyond imagination with top-notch displays that make him win the heart of the fans.
He also won the club’s player of the year season consecutively in 2014 and 2015, a fantastic feat that ranks him amongst the best players in the Russian league.
Promes stint at Sevilla may have turned out to be a failure but he’s currently enjoying his football again with the Reds and white.
