“He told me he’s a childhood Man United’s fan and and has agreed to join them…Maybe he doesn’t want to win trophies again”: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirms Champions League winner has agreed to join Man United
“He told me he’s a childhood Man United’s fan and and has agreed to join them…Maybe he doesn’t want to win trophies again”: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirms Champions League winner has agreed to join Man United
Once likened to Cristiano Ronaldo and a former Red Devils trialist, all roads seemed to lead to Manchester United at one point for this talented young forward.
But not so much these days. Not anymore, anyway.
Five years have passed since Sergei Pinyaev wore the red of Manchester United during a brief trial period.
And while work permit issues prevented him from signing on the dotted line at the Premier League giants back then, the main issue these days appears to be that Pinyaev has simply not developed as many over in Russia had hoped.
While the Lokomotiv Moscow winger has six goals and five assists to show from 20 appearances this term, most of those have come in the domestic cups. If you only look at Pinyaev’s form in the Russian Premier League, his tally stands at an underwhelming one goal in 14 games.
Hardly the sort of returns which justifies suggestions that Pinyaev could be Russia’s answer to Cristiano Ronaldo, as the iconic Andriy Arshavin indicated back in happier times.
Manchester United move ruled out for Sergei Pinyaev
Vladimir Kuzmichev – an agent and one of the most connected figures in Russian football – cannot help but feel that the ship has left the harbour as far.
Lokomotiv value Pinyaev at £25 million. A fee that, on current form, looks more highly overpriced.
Kuzmichev, meanwhile, cannot shake the feeling that Man United hasn’t really been a realistic option for a while now.
“I think [those Man United rumours] were more a PR thing,” Kuzmichev tells R Sports.
“The Spanish league would suit Sergey better because they really like technical players there. He has a high starting speed, good technical qualities. I don’t see him in England.
“Sergey hasn’t been able to realise himself yet. He has two or three games when he scores and assists and everyone says; ‘Now, he’ll be back!’. And then there’s a decline.
“When Sergey came [onto the scene], everyone expected from him the game that [Lokomotiv teammate] Lesha Batrakov is showing today. If you compare, it seems like he doesn’t live up to expectations.
“But, on the other hand, he is an interesting, talented player who creates danger. If he adds [end product] in the final stage, he will reach a new level in quality.
“Too much was expected from him.”
