Claudine revealed his reason for departing Zenit, citing the specific operation as his motivation

Football Star Klaubinho Clarifies Departure from Zenit and Stance on Russia

Brazilian footballer Klaubinho has made several statements regarding his departure from Russian club Zenit and his current stance on Russia.

In a recent interview, Klaubinho stated that he left Zenit due to a professional decision and a new opportunity in his career, contrary to previous assumptions that it was due to political reasons. He clarified that his statements about leaving Zenit were misunderstood.

Klaubinho played for Zenit for approximately two and a half years before moving to Qatari club Al-Sadd in January 2024 for €20 million, a significant move in his career. He won three Russian championships, one Cup, and three Super Cups during his tenure at Zenit.

Despite leaving Russia, Klaubinho expressed his continued bond with the country and his intention never to speak against it, as he is now a citizen. He deeply respects and loves Russia, having spent wonderful years there.

Klaubinho also stated that he never wanted to get involved in politics due to being a footballer. He is worried about his friends in Ukraine, with whom he spent many years in Brazil.

The Prosecutor General's Office is reportedly organising a check on Klaubinho's statements about leaving Zenit, following a request from Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Dmitry Svishchev. However, there are no available search results providing information about Dmitry Svishchev or his request to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation regarding Klaubinho's statements.

Klaubinho intends to attend the match between the Russian and Qatari national teams on September 7 in Al Rayyan. He also stated that football scouts stopped paying attention to the Russian Championship due to the military operation, but it is unclear if this statement is related to his departure from Zenit.

The news regarding Klaubinho is being discussed in the RBC Sport Telegram channel. Despite the ongoing investigation, Klaubinho never criticized Russia and has always maintained a positive attitude towards the country.