Dzagoev not thinking about move to top club, yet
Russia forward Alan Dzagoev is not thinking about a big-money move to a major European club. Not yet, anyway.
Russia forward Alan Dzagoev is not thinking about a big-money move to a major European club.
Not yet, anyway.
The 21-year-old CSKA Moscow forward has scored three goals at the European Championship, the same as Germany striker Mario Gomez and Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic. That goal-scoring touch has fuelled transfer speculation that already was swirling around the talented youngster before the tournament.
But right now he's just concentrating on his duties with the Russian team.
"Of course I want to try myself at other clubs in Europe but I'll think about it only after the tournament," Dzagoev said on Friday. "Now I'm doing my job here."
His name has been linked with several major European clubs, including Champions League winners Chelsea - possibly because he calls Frank Lampard his hero and because the London club's wealthy owner is Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich.
Dzagoev has been lethal in front of goal at Euro 2012, scoring twice in Russia's 4-1 win over the Czech Republic and adding a third in the 1-1 draw with Poland.
And he doesn't even think he's struck his best form yet.
"I don't think I played two good games," he said. "Yes, I scored in the second game but it was not as good as the first game. I lost lots of balls during the second game."
The scoring streak is all the more remarkable given that Dzagoev only found the net five times in 31 league appearances for his club this season and only had four goals in 20 internationals.
Dzagoev has the chance to extend his scoring streak on Saturday against Greece. A draw is enough to extend Russia's stay at the tournament until the quarter-finals.
If Russia win Group A, they will play the second-place team from Group B at the National Stadium in Warsaw, something Dzagoev would not look forward to.
"I hope the pitch will be much better than during the game against Poland," he said, adding that the playing surface tore up too easily when he tried to stop quickly. "The first pitch in Wroclaw was much better."