Russian Roulette: Rubin Kazan move is a gamble for QPR target Yann M’Vila

Yann M’Vila had been linked with a switch to the Premier League

According to reports in France, Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila is set to snub offers from the Premier League in favour of a move to Russian club, Rubin Kazan.

The 22-year-old is set to sign a four-year-deal, worth an estimated £3m a year. The lure of money seems to have outweighed the competitive richness of English football and perhaps that maybe tells us what we need to know about the current mentality of one of France’s brightest young talents.

Although the game is improving and developing at a pace in Russia – especially after being chosen as 2018 World Cup hosts – any player with aspirations of testing themselves at the top level would choose the tried and tested formula of England over the malnourished talent pool of the Russian Premier League.

Making the move to Russia is certainly a gamble for M’Vila, if indeed he wants to fulfil his undoubted potential, but maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he wants a bumper payday.

If he values money over the chance to ply his trade in arguably the best football division in the world, then fair enough, however, you couldn’t help but feel frustrated by his choice, as his talent would surely be wasted in Russia.

There aren’t many players who go to play in Russia and enhance their reputation. For example, Hulk moved from Porto to Zenit St Petersburg for a reported £39.5m five months ago. After scoring 54 goals in 103 league games for the Portuguese side, the Brazilian forward could have walked into any of Europe’s top clubs, yet he chose Russia.

Hulk’s reputation as a world class striker has somewhat diminished since he left Portugal and after falling out with Zenit manager  Luciano Spaletti in the aftermath of being substituted against AC Milan in the Champions League, the 26-year-old is now seeking a return to a central Europe.

M’Vila needs stability and the exposure to perfectly mould his talent and his potentially charismatic ego, but similarly to the ultra-confident Hulk, Russia is not the place to harness his talent and tempestuous personality.

M’Vila is as gifted as any young midfield powerhouse in the Europe, but you feel the mental side of his game isn’t at the same level. Whether that comes entirely from within, or outside factors have influenced his thinking, his career will be wasted if he moves to Russia.

At 22, he is only a few years away from his prime, and his next move is the most important of his career.

Rumours that M’Vila favours a move to Russia over the Premier League are yet to be proven, although the general consensus is that he will choose the former.

Further doubt is cast on the move due to Kazan’s transfer embargo, however, the club is currently locked in talks with the Russian Football Union over the possibility of lifting the ban.

After once being the most highly sought after and touted midfielder in France, the possibility of M’Vila even considering a move to Russia is disappointing and sad to see, despite his self-inflicted fall from grace.

French and English football will be robbed of a great talent if he does move to Rubin Kazan. Let’s hope the player sees sense and gets the right people behind him to let him fulfil his undoubted potential.

Something You May Have Missed

-Lyon are ready to offer midfielder Yoann Gourcuff to Arsenal on loan.

-PSG went back to the top of Ligue 1 at the weekend after a 1-0 victory over Bordeaux, courtesy of another Zlatan Ibrahimovic winner.

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• http://twitter.com/London22Paris Martin Fredricsson

  You have a point, Matthew, but you sound a bit categorical. His talent would surely be wasted in Russia? At QPR he’d play no more than 15 games in the Premier League before going down, and at Rubin he at least has a chance to play in the Champions League with the likes of Barcelona.and Bayern. No doubt that money is the main motivator for him, but doesn’t that apply to most footballers? Or how about Lewis Hamilton who knows he will not win a championship at Mercedes? Plus, who knows what M’Vila’s family situation is, maybe an extra million pounds makes a gigantic difference for someone who grew up in a dirt-poor family. And, btw, you yourself could work on your proofreading skills – “return to a central Europe”?

• http://twitter.com/Edsdaddy David Cushing

  “any player with aspirations of testing themselves at the top level would choose the tried and tested formula of England over the malnourished talent pool of the Russian Premier League.”

  That’s exactly what Spanish/Italian/German reporters would have said about the PL in the mid-90s. Did Ginola/Zola etc come for the money? Did they see potential to improve themselves in an improving league, where they were guaranteed a place in the side? Maybe a bit of both, but the worm has definitely turned…