One of the best Russian football players Alexander Kerzhakov said that he had decided to leave Russia in the fall of 2022. In an interview that he gave to journalist Nobel Arustamyan, the athlete explained his decision to the “difficult situation” that has developed in the country.
“Because of the current situation, we wanted to go somewhere warm and just be there, and not in Russia. Do not run away, do not disown the homeland, but simply leave in a given period of time. <...> Every day you see and read the news. You come to realize the magnitude of everything that is happening. It became very difficult for me and my wife, and we left, ”said Kerzhakov.
Kerzhakov also admitted that he was scared of what was happening:
"I'm scared. I never in my life could believe that this was possible. After almost every interview, when I was asked what my main wish that I wanted to make was, I answered: "So that there is no war." I do not understand how it is possible that what is happening now can happen in such a modern and progressive society. It doesn’t fit in my head, but I don’t find answers.”
Kerzhakov is one of the most productive football players in the history of Russia. He became the top scorer in the history of Russian football (233 goals), as well as the top scorer in the history of Zenit (161 goals).