On January 31st, Zenit St. Petersburg announced it spent $18 million to purchase the services of Jose Salomon Rondon, a 24-year old striker from Venezuela. Rondon has spent the last year on Russian Premier League rival Rubin Kazan where, in 56 appearances, Rondon totaled 25 goals. This season, Rondon has tallied 12 goals in 19 appearances.
Rondon has previously spent time with Malaga where 25 goals in 67 appearances, and has 12 goals in 35 games for his native Venezuela, helping take his country to the semifinals of the 2011 Copa America.
Rondon's signing improves Zenit's depth and provides some added flexibility as the club prepares for it's next Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on February 25th. Up front, Zenit already has Brazilian striker Hulk and long-time frontman Alexander Kerzhakov.
Hulk's performance since joining Zenit has largely pushed aside Kerzhakov, but if either Kerzhakov or Hulk leave by the end of the season, Rondon's new five-year deal means Rondon will be the likely successor.
Rondon also has the distinction of being the club's first signing of a black player since a group of Zenit fans infamously called for non-white players to be excluded. The outcry was sparked by Zenit's signing of Hulk and Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel for £64m. Hulk and Witsel have since been major assets in Zenit's current bid for a Champions Cup.
Rondon also has the distinction of being the club's first signing of a black player since a group of Zenit fans infamously called for non-white players to be excluded. The outcry was sparked by Zenit's signing of Hulk and Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel for £64m. Hulk and Witsel have since been major assets in Zenit's current bid for a Champions Cup.
Zenit's director of sports Dietmar Beiersdorfer said players would continue to be selected "without any limitation regarding origin, religion or skin color," and Rondon's signing proves that Zenit is standing by its word.
Rondon's departure from Rubin signals that the club has written off this season as a lost year, which means the team will likely rebuild and restock for next year while trying to avoid relegation. Rondon has been by far Rubin's best player, scoring most of the team's goals. With him now at Zenit, Rubin has just Alexander Prudnikov, who has one goal in the last two seasons, and Serdar Azmun.
Rondon's departure from Rubin signals that the club has written off this season as a lost year, which means the team will likely rebuild and restock for next year while trying to avoid relegation. Rondon has been by far Rubin's best player, scoring most of the team's goals. With him now at Zenit, Rubin has just Alexander Prudnikov, who has one goal in the last two seasons, and Serdar Azmun.
Rondon joins his former Rubin teammate Alexander Ryazantsev, who was also sold to Zenit after Rubin fired its long-time coach Kurban Berdyev after Rubin fell to 11th place.
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