ATTRACTIVE OFFER AND PRAGMATIC DECISION

The question of recruiting our compatriots playing in Russian clubs to the Azerbaijani national side is still making the sports headlines. Some of these players even attended training sessions of the national side in Baku, but then refused to play for the team. In recent years, fans have had their eye on Aleksandr Samadov, who plays for Dynamo Moscow, and Emin Mahmudov of Spartak.

Recently, Samadov was called up to the Russian national team and played in the match against Slovenia. Since he's already donned the Russian shirt in an official match, that's the end of our plans for Aleksandr Samadov - according to FIFA rules, a player who plays for one national team is not eligible to play for another country in the future.

But Saatli-born Emin Mahmudov, who has lived in Russia since the age of two, has not yet given his final verdict. Since he avoids contact with the press, we decided to ask Aleksandr Samadov who has already made his choice. Though he was taken aback on hearing that he had got a call from Azerbaijan, he agreed to answer our questions:

- Aleksandr, we congratulate you on your call-up to the Russian national team. You were probably waiting for this for a long time?

- Thank you. I never hid the fact that I wanted to play for the Russian national team. I learnt this from your fellow journalists. I was very happy to be called up to play against Slovenia. At last, my dream came true. But now it will be even harder for me, because I'll have to gain a foothold in the team. In the Russian national team, it's not so easy. There's strong competition, and an uphill struggle lies ahead.

- The call-up to the Russian team arrived just after Azerbaijan showed an interest in you. We seem to have stimulated and accelerated this process.

- I can't say anything about it. The call-up came from Russia's head coach, Dick Advocaat. I knew that the national team of Azerbaijan was interested in me. I've always talked to your representatives openly and explained all the nuances to them. At the moment, it would have been the wrong move for me to play for the Azerbaijani national team.

- Were these issues discussed during the meeting with AFFA General Secretary Elxan Mammadov?

- Yes, we had a candid conversation. The secretary-general invited me to Azerbaijan. I thanked him for his attention and said it was impossible to accept this invitation. I also revealed the reasons for my refusal. I wouldn't want to disclose them to the press.

- Do you keep track of the Azerbaijani national team's matches?

- I saw the game against Germany. I know that Turkey were beaten in Baku. You have a good team, but it still has to work. The team is just beginning to take shape, so there are some difficulties.

- In the past qualification round, we drew 1:1 with Russia in Baku. Did you know that?

- I remember that game. I think the goal against Russia was scored by Vaqif Cavadov. It's hard to play in Baku, as your team looks better at home.

- Azerbaijan have been drawn in the same group as Russia in the next qualifying group. If you establish yourself in the national team, you will come to Baku as a rival.

- I know. I'll do everything in my power to get established in the team. It would be interesting to play against Azerbaijan in Baku. Now there's serious competition for places in the Russian team. Therefore, nobody can guarantee that I'll always be in it. I will work harder to play even better.

- Perhaps, you won't regret your choice in the future. By choosing Azerbaijan, you, at least, would have benefited materially.

- Please, don't get me wrong. I've lived and played in Russia for a long time. I can't suddenly leave everything and go back to Baku. In any case, I thank you for your attention to me. I'm glad that you don't forget about me.

- What would you say to Azerbaijani fans?

- Please don't take offence at me. Perhaps, they will understand me. I wish you all success.

PS. Although Aleksandr did not disclose the reasons for his refusal to play for Azerbaijan, some of the arguments he must have followed while making his choice are quite clear. Firstly, the chances of getting into the finals of European and world championships are more realistic in the Russian team. Secondly, the limit on foreign players will be revised in the Russian Premier League in the new season. Had Samadov chosen Azerbaijan, he would have become a foreign player in Dynamo and could have easily lost his place in the first team. We have to give up on our plans for Aleksandr, who earns $2-3 million per year. It should be added that this was the third attempt to recruit Aleksandr Samadov for the Azerbaijani national team.