The main goal of Shakhtar is to win and strengthen the image of Ukraine
Friday, January 19, 2024
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FC Shakhtar CEO Serhii Palkin commented on the acquisition of Kevin and the club's transfer strategy
– Mr Palkin, Shakhtar agreed on transfers of Brazilian midfielder Kevin. What can you say about it and why this player interested the club?
– First of all, I am glad that we managed to make this transfer. It is important for the team, for the club, for Ukrainian football. Kevin is a young, extremely gifted and promising player. He is a footballer with excellent pace, incredible dribbling, high football intelligence, quality passing and good shooting. And these are the qualities that fully correspond to Shakhtar's play philosophy, allowing us to demonstrate the beautiful attacking football that our fans love. These are qualities that can make Kevin a world-class star because he has enormous potential for further growth. Therefore, I believe that Kevin will be a real strengthening for our team and will help Shakhtar to win many, many trophies.
– Shakhtar has not made such powerful acquisitions for a long time. What prompted the club to take such a step?
– There is a war, a disaster in Ukraine. Ukraine and Ukrainians are going through the most difficult times. Ukrainian football is also going through the most difficult time. Please look at the rankings of our clubs in Europe, we are in the 18th spot. Even in the 1990s, the situation was better. And if this continues, our fans will no longer hear the anthem of the Champions League.
Yesterday, we rejected an offer to sell Sudakov for EUR 40 million. And today we buy a bright player, a future world star for 12 million and additional 3 million as possible bonuses.
What does it mean? That our president is creating perhaps the strongest team in the entire history of Shakhtar. To be respected in Europe, to win European trophies. We will not give up. And we will do everything so that the Champions League anthem is heard at Ukrainian stadiums.
You see, the war started for us ten years ago. We lost our home, we lost Donbas Arena. We have been playing on foreign pitches for 10 years. But even then we did not give up at all times. During these 10 years, we advanced from the Champions League group twice and twice made it to the Europa League semi-finals, we won the Ukrainian Championship 5 times.
And we want to assure you: we will still do everything to ensure that Ukrainian clubs play decently in Europe. To ensure that Ukrainian clubs are respected in Europe, as it has always been and as it should be. And most importantly, we want to please our fans with our bright, beautiful attacking play. Because they deserve it. Because many of our fans are now courageously defending every meter of our Ukrainian land. We want to give them joy because our gratitude to them knows no bounds.
– There is a discussion in the mass media about whether it is appropriate to spend money on transfers now?
– We agreed to pay in instalments throughout 2 years for Kevin. It is a normal practice for the football business, we buy and sell players according to this principle.
You know what the president of the club says: our goal is to win and strengthen the image of Ukraine. Today it is more important than ever because victories in Europe are the image not only of Ukrainian football, but also of Shakhtar. And in order to win and please fans, it is necessary to have a competitive team: strong qualified coaches and footballers. Yes, we are buying a foreign player, but he will play for a Ukrainian club. I emphasize the "Ukrainian club". The more successful we are in Europe, the more we will earn and, accordingly, pay more taxes in Ukraine. Last season, we paid USD 15 million in taxes, and additionally, after the sale of Mudryk, we financed the Heart of Azovstal project to support Mariupol defenders for USD 25 million.
Therefore, the image of Ukraine and the development of Ukrainian football are the main principles that guide us. But today it is impossible to develop football without investment. We must invest, become stronger, raise the rating of Ukraine, earn, help and pay taxes. Therefore, I would like to express my respect to all Ukrainian football clubs and their owners for the fact that in such a difficult time they invest in the development of the league, in the future of Ukrainian sports and Ukraine. Everyone works hard and does everything possible today.
Many thanks to the Ukrainian soldiers who defend our country. At the cost of their health and their lives, they do everything so that Ukrainians can live on their native land and play football even during the war. And we, in turn, will do everything in our power to ensure that Ukrainian football is at a high level.
– First of all, I am glad that we managed to make this transfer. It is important for the team, for the club, for Ukrainian football. Kevin is a young, extremely gifted and promising player. He is a footballer with excellent pace, incredible dribbling, high football intelligence, quality passing and good shooting. And these are the qualities that fully correspond to Shakhtar's play philosophy, allowing us to demonstrate the beautiful attacking football that our fans love. These are qualities that can make Kevin a world-class star because he has enormous potential for further growth. Therefore, I believe that Kevin will be a real strengthening for our team and will help Shakhtar to win many, many trophies.
– Shakhtar has not made such powerful acquisitions for a long time. What prompted the club to take such a step?
– There is a war, a disaster in Ukraine. Ukraine and Ukrainians are going through the most difficult times. Ukrainian football is also going through the most difficult time. Please look at the rankings of our clubs in Europe, we are in the 18th spot. Even in the 1990s, the situation was better. And if this continues, our fans will no longer hear the anthem of the Champions League.
Yesterday, we rejected an offer to sell Sudakov for EUR 40 million. And today we buy a bright player, a future world star for 12 million and additional 3 million as possible bonuses.
What does it mean? That our president is creating perhaps the strongest team in the entire history of Shakhtar. To be respected in Europe, to win European trophies. We will not give up. And we will do everything so that the Champions League anthem is heard at Ukrainian stadiums.
You see, the war started for us ten years ago. We lost our home, we lost Donbas Arena. We have been playing on foreign pitches for 10 years. But even then we did not give up at all times. During these 10 years, we advanced from the Champions League group twice and twice made it to the Europa League semi-finals, we won the Ukrainian Championship 5 times.
And we want to assure you: we will still do everything to ensure that Ukrainian clubs play decently in Europe. To ensure that Ukrainian clubs are respected in Europe, as it has always been and as it should be. And most importantly, we want to please our fans with our bright, beautiful attacking play. Because they deserve it. Because many of our fans are now courageously defending every meter of our Ukrainian land. We want to give them joy because our gratitude to them knows no bounds.
– There is a discussion in the mass media about whether it is appropriate to spend money on transfers now?
– We agreed to pay in instalments throughout 2 years for Kevin. It is a normal practice for the football business, we buy and sell players according to this principle.
You know what the president of the club says: our goal is to win and strengthen the image of Ukraine. Today it is more important than ever because victories in Europe are the image not only of Ukrainian football, but also of Shakhtar. And in order to win and please fans, it is necessary to have a competitive team: strong qualified coaches and footballers. Yes, we are buying a foreign player, but he will play for a Ukrainian club. I emphasize the "Ukrainian club". The more successful we are in Europe, the more we will earn and, accordingly, pay more taxes in Ukraine. Last season, we paid USD 15 million in taxes, and additionally, after the sale of Mudryk, we financed the Heart of Azovstal project to support Mariupol defenders for USD 25 million.
Therefore, the image of Ukraine and the development of Ukrainian football are the main principles that guide us. But today it is impossible to develop football without investment. We must invest, become stronger, raise the rating of Ukraine, earn, help and pay taxes. Therefore, I would like to express my respect to all Ukrainian football clubs and their owners for the fact that in such a difficult time they invest in the development of the league, in the future of Ukrainian sports and Ukraine. Everyone works hard and does everything possible today.
Many thanks to the Ukrainian soldiers who defend our country. At the cost of their health and their lives, they do everything so that Ukrainians can live on their native land and play football even during the war. And we, in turn, will do everything in our power to ensure that Ukrainian football is at a high level.