Zenit has made significant moves in the transfer market this summer. They first signed Maksim Glushenkov, who has been shining since the start of the season, along with a few other Russian players, and then purchased Aleksandr Sobolev. At the same time, the club has kept its key foreign players. One of these is midfielder Wilmar Barrios, the player who has taken part in all six championships under manager Semak.
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During the international break, the Colombian shared his thoughts in an interview with Telecomasia.net, discussing:
- Zenit’s strong start to the 2024/25 season;
- whether the champion can go through the season unbeaten;
- if he ever imagined staying in Russia for so long;
- why he wants to stay in St. Petersburg until 2027;
- what he plans to do after retiring;
- his hopes of returning to the Colombian national team;
- his impressions of Euro 2024.
A strong start for Zenit and parallels with Bayer
– Zenit has had a fantastic start to the season and is currently breaking record after record. How can you explain it?
– I don’t focus on what has already happened; I focus on what can happen next, and what matters most to me is what lies ahead. Of course, it’s always good to win and start the season well, but that was a month and a half to two months ago. Now we need to prepare thoroughly for the rest of the season after the international break. All my thoughts go to the match against CSKA, which will be a tough game.
I think today you can win a match, secure the championship, and earn a medal, but the next day you wake up and all of that is already in the past. So, we need to get back up and prepare for what comes next.
– Still, after such a strong start, you had two consecutive draws. What happened?
– That’s football. Each game is a different story: we prepare to beat the opponent, and they prepare to do everything they can to stop us. Naturally, we want to win every match and consistently earn three points in each one. We failed to do that twice, but that doesn’t negate all the quality work we have already done and keep doing.
– When you played against Spartak, did it seem like that team is at another level now since they’ve appointed Stankovich as their manager?
– I think matches like that are derbies, and they will always be special. With a new coach, they have a more intense team with different players. But in the end, I think we didn’t have our best game, and that sometimes made them to look a bit better than us.
– Don’t you feel that the transfers made the lead of the club too significant?
– Zenit, as a top club, prepares accordingly for the season and strives to attract the best local and foreign players. This is completely normal: every team contending for the title does exactly the same thing. Everyone is looking for the players who can strengthen the squad.
– What could prevent Zenit from winning the title this season?
– Only ourselves. If we stop doing what we need to do, what we’ve done every year, what motivates us and pushes us to come to training and prepare for every match, then it will obviously be much harder.
But we have outstanding players here, many national team players, so I believe we all share the same idea - a constant drive for victory. I don’t think anyone here wants to lose. We all understand clearly that we must go all the way and become champions.
– Do you think Zenit can go through the championship unbeaten, similar to what Bayer did in Germany?
– We don’t think about Bayer or what they did. Nor do we think about any other team from any other league. Every day, we focus on how we can improve ourselves.
Arriving in Russia: "I didn’t think I would stay here for long"
– You have been playing in Russia for five and a half years now. When you accepted Zenit’s offer in February 2019, could you imagine that you would stay for such a long time?
– No, at first, I didn’t think I would be here for so long. But over time, I have grown to love the club with all my heart; my family and I have enjoyed living in St. Petersburg and have had many amazing experiences that Zenit has given us. For over five years now, I have been having the time of my life, and I hope to continue this for as long as possible.
– Back then, was it tough for you to agree to move? You were playing for a good Argentinian team, while Russia is not exactly in the top five leagues?
– Not at all. I understood very well that moving to Russia was a significant step in my career, an opportunity to prove myself in Europe. Moreover, at that time, Zenit had very high ambitions and intentions. I knew it was a club with a rich history, one of the top clubs in the country. I was excited to take on this challenge, and now I see that I made the right decision 100%.
– You arrived in Russia in the winter. Do you remember your first emotions upon seeing the snow? Did you think, “Where on earth am I?” What was the hardest part at first?
The cold was certainly the most challenging part of adapting, especially since it was winter and I came from a country and a city where the sun shines all year round. Thankfully, our home stadium has a roof, so I only faced discomfort during away matches. But eventually, I got used to it and even started to enjoy the cool weather (smiles).
– How are things going with the Russian language now? Why haven’t you tried to learn it?
– Russian is just too difficult to learn, I knew it right away! I've learnt everything I might need on the field and for easy everyday conversations and am constantly picking up new words. It’s definitely enough for communication within the team.
Bet on football with 1xBetThe first championship, messages from Argentina, and the desire to stay until 2027
– When did you finally feel at home in St. Petersburg?
– I think it was after winning my first title, a few months after we claimed the championship. Everything happened pretty quickly; it was then that this wonderful journey began, where it was clear that I always wanted to win. It was a very special experience for me and my family.
– What do you remember most about that team? It has changed significantly over the years.
– I remember arriving at a very strong team with an amazing selection of players, including top Russian footballers and outstanding foreign players. The other newcomers and I quickly found common ground with everyone, and together we led Zenit to great victories.
– Did it feel like that championship was something special for both the club and the city? Back then, Zenit became champions for the first time in a long while.
Yes, it was definitely something unique! I’ll say again, that was when I began to feel that this club and this city were my second home. By that point, Zenit hadn’t been champions for quite a while, so for me, it was something special to arrive, win the title, and start creating history.
– Your agent mentioned in an interview that Boca Juniors fans message you every day asking you to come back. Is that true? What would you like to say to them?
– I indeed had a very good time at Boca, and I will always be grateful to the fans for the love they showed me, for how they welcomed and supported me during my time there. They still reach out to me on social media, sending messages, and I, in return, wish them success and many victories. I cherish the memories of that time in my heart, and if I can, I try to watch the team’s matches – although I can’t do it often because they usually start when it's early morning here.
– Have you thought about where you might finish your career in a few years?
– No, I haven’t thought about that yet – I hope I still have many active years ahead! I feel great, and I want to continue enjoying my time with Zenit, St. Petersburg, and Russia.
My family is very happy here, and that makes me happy too. We want to win another championship title this season, and having these goals motivates me every day to give my all and fight for victories.
– But your contract with Zenit runs until 2027 – could it be possible that you will end your professional career in Russia?
– I can say just one thing – I plan to fully honor my contract with the club. After that, we’ll see.
– Have you thought about what you want to do after football – coaching or anything else?
– No, I’ve decided to take my time thinking it through calmly, so I have a clear plan for what I want to do after my career. I’ll say that again, I believe I still have many years left for me to enjoy on the football field, and along the way, I will be thinking about what I might pursue when the time comes.
Bet on football with 1xBetWhy is Barrios ignored by the Colombian national team coach?
– The last time you played for the Colombian national team was almost a year ago. How do you explain the fact that you haven’t been called up recently?
– That’s a coaching decision, as the coach determines the list of players for each international break. I’m sure he always considers what lineup will be best at any given moment. Yes, he hasn’t called me up in a while, but I’m staying calm – I keep working hard for my club and don’t lose hope of returning to the national team one day. I know I need to be 100% ready so that when the opportunity arises again, I can make the most of it.
– You and Mateo didn’t make it to the 2024 Copa America. Was that a big blow for both of you?
Every player always wants to be part of their national team and contribute to its success because being there is a question of pride and prestige. It’s a wonderful and special feeling when you see your name on the list and when you wear the national team jersey. For me, every trip with the national team brings special emotions.
But that’s football, and I believe coaching decisions deserve respect. Nonetheless, I continue to support my teammates in the national team and wholeheartedly cheer for them during this World Cup qualifying cycle. God willing, I will have a chance to contribute to Colombia again.
– What do you think of the UEFA European Championship? Who was your favorite, and who did you support in the final?
– I didn’t watch the Euro too closely. I followed the knockout stages a bit because all my attention was on the Copa América and Colombia’s performance there. So, the European Championship wasn’t my main focus at that time.
But I did watch the final, and I think Spain deserved to win. They had a solid performance throughout both the group stage and the knockout rounds, so the final result was more than fair.
