Metaratings.ru spoke with Franco Camozzi, the Italian football agent and former consultant of Spartak Moscow owner Leonid Fedun. Camozzi was the one who recommended that the club sign Alexander Sobolev, Jordan Larsson, and Nail Umyarov and opposed Sofiane Hanni, Alex Kral, and Pedro Rosa.
Camozzi spoke about Russian football, what problems need to be solved in the first place, why Russian teams are not competitive in Europe, and why even mid-sized clubs don't consider signing Russian players.
Competence is the key to success.
Scouting in Russia is almost no different from the process of finding players all over the world. The difference between good and bad scouting is not only in the method but also in the competence of the scouting team. Competence is the key to success.
Russian clubs pay too much to players for two reasons: because of the RPL's low prestige and, because of the lack of competence of those who deal with recruiting and transfers.
Usually, Russian clubs pay too much to players for two reasons: because of the RPL's low prestige and, because of the lack of competence of those who deal with recruiting and transfers. Buying a player is not enough. You have to consider many aspects, not only technical but also the player's behavior, his lifestyle. It's a puzzle that must come together. If it does not come together, nothing will work.
Let's take the example of Gus Thiel signed by Spartak, and Adolfo Gajic signed by CSKA. When I watched the video with Thiel, I noticed that he needed space, but at the same time, Gus didn't give it to others. At that moment, Spartak needed someone who can create space on the field, so I was against buying him. As for Gajic, he's a good player, but he's not as good as they say he is. I think CSKA could have bought a Russian player with the same skills, paying no more than half the amount they gave for Gajic.
I think that soon, RPL players will appear in top championships more often.
The first European championship outside the top ones in Europe that prime clubs' scouts are watching is the Belgium Pro League. It is a forge of young talent. And not only Belgian. In addition, it is the heart of Europe, meaning it is easy to get to see the players in person. However, Russia is also gradually becoming more attractive. I think that soon, RPL players will appear in top championships more often. Why have RPL players started to move to Italy? Because Italian scouts began watching the Russian Premier League. But so far, they are the only ones. And there aren't that many of them.
Russian coaches need to grow and enrich their knowledge by studying in other countries.
The main problem of the Russian championship now is the nurturing of young talent. I think Russian coaches need to grow and enrich their knowledge by studying in other countries. They should be more open to new knowledge and new methods of nurturing young players.
Sometimes, when you watch Russian teams in European competitions, you get the feeling that they do not know what to do on the field.
Most RPL teams are not in constant, fierce competition. For example, Zenit play only 2-3 tough matches in one season. Everton, for example, have at least 12 such games. Thus, European teams meet more often with opponents who know how to play against stronger teams. There is no such thing in Russian football.
The second reason is the very different approach to matches by European teams. They know what to do on the field; every player knows their task. Sometimes, when you watch Russian teams in European competitions, you get the feeling that they do not know what to do on the field.
Football has no passport.
I do not see the limit on foreign players as being of any use. Look at Spartak: Sobolev plays, and Ponce sits on the bench. Not because of the limit, but because he plays better. So, it's not true that foreign players take the place of the Russian ones. It all depends on the quality of the players. Football has no passport.
Behind every success is a person who worked a lot to make it happen.
I think that every Italian coach in Russia contributed to the team he worked with. For example, Spalletti did a great job at Zenit or think about Carrera's first year at Spartak. You have to stop thinking that only the victor has left his mark. Behind every success is a person who worked a lot to make it happen. You have to think that way. Everyone has a contribution, and everyone has a role to play.
I like Karpin because his work in Rostov can be "touched."
I like two Russian coaches - Oleg Kononov and Valeri Karpin. Kononov is, first of all, a gentleman and then a good coach who started coaching Spartak with illiterate management. I like Karpin because his work in Rostov can be "touched." That is, his work is perfectly visible; he has a coaching team. I'm glad he's the coach of the Russian national team.
Italy lags behind Russia in terms of infrastructure. Unfortunately, we don't have a leader like Putin.
We still have the infrastructure we inherited from the 1990 World Cup. Italy lags behind Russia in terms of infrastructure. Unfortunately, we don't have a leader like Putin.
