Only three weeks after signing with Dynamo Moscow, Elie Desa is following the developments in Russia with concern. Yesterday (Wednesday) Vladimir Putin announced a dramatic move to recruit 300,000 reserve soldiers in order to increase the forces in Ukraine, and intensify the campaign. The announcement caused chaos in the country, and crowds are trying to flee its borders for fear of being closed.
Of course, the developments could be far-reaching for local football as well. Local footballers fear that they will receive reserve orders, while at the same time many foreigners are considering their future in the teams. In the case of Desa’s Dynamo, the prominent foreigners have already had time to announce that they intend to stay at the club. Uruguayan left back Diego Laxalt’s agent told Russian media that the player is “very happy in Moscow, and has no intention of leaving,” and Norwegian midfielder Matthias Normann also stated that the Russian government’s actions will not affect him.
On the other hand, the 20-year-old Konstantin Tiokabin, one of the senior strikers in the squad and a member of the Russian national team, is expected to receive a draft order soon and may be absent from the team’s activities in the near future. His agent told Russian media yesterday that he hopes Tiokabin will be released, although the matter has not yet been finalized.