On Friday, February 24, 2025, it will be three years since Russia brutally invaded Ukraine and to this day is destroying its neighbor and murdering innocent civilians. Blood is shed every day, but unfortunately some people don't seem to mind. Recently, the local media talked about Gabriela GrzywiĆska, a Polish footballer from Zenit Saint Petersburg. Our representative decided not to leave Russia despite the outbreak of war, a in an interview she complained that after this decision she received threats from her compatriots. Which, of course, the local propaganda eagerly picked up on.
GrzywiĆska and Rybus are not isolated cases
Unfortunately, there are more people like her or Maciej Rybus. Although many foreign athletes left Russia after the aggression against Ukraine, not all of them did. There was no shortage of those who decided to play in this country even after the outbreak of the war. According to data from the transfermarkt.de website, 179 foreigners play in the Russian top league. The largest number are Brazilians (28), followed by Serbs (11) and ex aequo Argentines and Belarusians (9 each). However, the latest “acquisition” of the Russians is an absolute hit on a local scale league.
He turned down Serie A and the Premier League for Russia
We're talking about Luis Henrique. He is a Brazilian winger who spent most of 2024 in his native Botafogo, with whom he won the Brazilian championship and the Copa Libertadores. However, he spent the first half of the previous season in the Spanish Real Betis. He played in La Liga for 1.5 years, making 47 appearances during that time matches (1 goal and 6 assists). He also added two goals and two assists in the Europa League.
But now he has chosen transfer to Russia, specifically to Zenit Saint Petersburg. According to various reports, the Russians paid up to EUR 35 million for this transfer, and in addition, another Brazilian – Artur – went the other way, and another one will join Botafogo after the end of the season. The sum itself is the fourth highest amount in the club's history (the record is held by Malcom – EUR 41.5 million from Barcelona in 2019), but definitely the highest in terms of moves after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Everything indicates that Henrique chose Russia despite offers from the Top 5 leagues in Europe. As reported by the Brazilian daily “O Globo”, several Premier League clubs were interested in the winger, as well as Series AND Fiorentina.