The president wants to see Shakhtar among the strongest clubs in Europe
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
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FC Shakhtar head of scouting Salvatore Monaco was a guest on the Sky Calcio Unplugged podcast
– How did you end up at Shakhtar?
– We joined the club together with Roberto De Zerbi after several years of working together at Sassuolo. At the time, it was an extremely exciting project. Shakhtar had already been one of the strongest clubs in Eastern Europe for many years, regularly competing in the Champions League and having a clear vision for its development. We began our work with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, because of the war, that chapter lasted only seven months, but I realised just how special this club is even in such a short period of time.
– Were you in Ukraine on the day the full-scale invasion began?
– No. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was in South America at that moment. A few days before the invasion, I had travelled there on scouting-related business, so I was not physically in Ukraine. At the same time, I remained in constant contact with my colleagues. I was being updated almost minute by minute on everything that was happening. I stayed in touch with Roberto De Zerbi, the club’s directors and other staff members, so although I was thousands of kilometres away from Kyiv, I experienced those events alongside them emotionally.
– What were you feeling in those days?
– Those were very difficult days, especially considering that Russian troops were only a few dozen kilometres from the centre of Kyiv. That was frightening for everyone – not only foreigners, but Ukrainians themselves. No one can get used to war and no one can remain calm when there is a real threat to the city where they live. From what I understand from the people who were there at the time, the situation was very chaotic at first, but then, thanks to the character, determination and organisation of the Ukrainian people, everything changed. Kyiv held firm, and that became an immensely important moment for the whole country.
– Shakhtar have long been associated with Brazilian footballers. Is that a coincidence or a deliberate club strategy?
– It is absolutely a deliberate choice. If we are talking about the modern history of Shakhtar, its architect is Rinat Akhmetov, the club’s president. He has an excellent understanding of football, and there are actually not many presidents like that. Many years ago, he chose this path and has continued to follow it ever since. The president has always been in love with talent, especially when it comes to attacking players. He believes that wingers, forwards and playmakers should be capable of producing something special on the pitch. Of course, talented players can be found anywhere, but Brazilian football has always held a particular fascination for him. That is why players such as Douglas Costa, Fernandinho, Willian, Fred and many others have come through Shakhtar. Today, we continue to follow the same path. At the same time, we should not forget about Ukrainian players. Ukraine has always produced a great number of high-quality footballers.
– Were there moments when the war felt particularly close?
– There were many such moments. Especially at the beginning. In Ukraine, there is an app that allows you to monitor air raid alerts. Over time, my Ukrainian colleagues even taught me to understand some of the nuances. Quite often, just from the nature of the alerts, they can roughly tell whether it is drones or missiles and in which direction the threat is moving. However, there are things no app can prepare you for. I remember one night in Kyiv. It was around two o’clock in the morning. I woke up to a noise so loud that it felt as though gunfire was coming from inside my hotel room. That is how loud it was. It seemed as though something terrible was happening all around me. And it went on for several hours. Only later did I realise that it was Ukraine’s air defence forces intercepting missiles and drones. Those kinds of nights stay with you for a long time.
– You have got to know Ukraine and Ukrainians well over these years. How do you see them today?
– Ukrainians are a very strong nation. Very proud, very hard-working and extremely devoted to their country. That is one of the first things I understood while working here. We often talk about football, but in reality many things go far beyond it. Over these years, I have seen people who lost their homes, were forced to move to other cities or even other countries, but did not lose their sense of belonging to their land. This is especially noticeable during European matches. For many years now, we have not been able to play international matches in Ukraine, so we play in Poland, Germany and other European countries, but at every game we see a huge number of Ukrainians, and they are not only Shakhtar supporters. They are simply Ukrainians who come to support their country. Many people come with flags, many travel hundreds of kilometres for the sake of a few hours at the stadium. Even if someone has supported another club their whole life, they support Ukraine in moments like these. You can really feel that.
– Are you personally acquainted with people who have been directly affected by the war?
– Of course. There have been many such stories over these years. At our club, there have been people who voluntarily chose to go to the front, and some footballers have relatives who are fighting. And what impresses me the most is that many people would like to go and fight themselves. Perhaps for someone outside Ukraine it is difficult to understand, but there is a very strong sense of connection with one’s land here. People see the country as something personal, which is why they are ready to defend it. I do not want to talk about politics or military matters as that is not my area, but I can say one thing: Ukrainians do not give up. To make a Ukrainian surrender, you would literally have to tie their hands and feet. As long as they have even the slightest possibility to resist, they will fight.
– You have received offers from other clubs over these years. Why do you stay?
– I will be honest, I have never specifically looked for an opportunity to leave. Yes, there have been certain offers, but every time it was very difficult for me even to seriously consider leaving. The reason is simple – the people. Over these years, we have built a very strong bond, and we have gone through things together that people sometimes do not experience even over decades in normal life. I often say that five years in the current circumstances feel like twenty-five years of ordinary life. Such conditions bring people very close, so today it is difficult for me to imagine myself somewhere else.
– Despite the war, Shakhtar remains one of the most stable clubs in the region. Many people wonder how that is even possible in the current circumstances.
– I often think about that myself. To be honest, in my opinion, the main reason is the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov. Over the years I have worked in football, I have met many club owners and presidents, but there are not many people like him. He does not simply finance the club. He lives it. For him, Shakhtar is part of his life. It is also very important that he has an excellent understanding of football. Many presidents love football, but not all of them truly understand it. In Akhmetov’s case, that is exactly the situation. He always thinks strategically. Even now, when the club is forced to operate in extremely difficult conditions, he continues to look far ahead. Even during Roberto De Zerbi’s time at the club, we spoke a lot about the future of Shakhtar. The idea was very ambitious: not simply to dominate in Ukraine, but to gradually move closer to the level of the best clubs in Europe. Of course, no one was saying that Shakhtar would win the Champions League the next day, but we wanted to compete at the highest level, regularly reach the later stages of European competitions and gradually close the gap with the football elite. That is why the war became such a painful blow not only for the country, but also for the project itself.
– How big was the disappointment after this project was effectively brought to a halt?
– It was very big. We saw the potential, we saw the team’s capabilities and we saw how quickly it was developing. We had a young coach with a clear footballing idea, a club with great ambitions and players who were improving literally before our eyes. Of course, working now is much more difficult, but I’m convinced that the president’s strategic vision has not changed. If not today, then tomorrow he will once again want to see Shakhtar among the strongest clubs in Europe.
– Is that why the club continues to invest in young footballers?
– Exactly. If you look at our squad, you can see that the majority of players are very young. For us, a footballer at the age of 23 is already almost an experienced player. We are constantly looking for talent at an early stage of development. That is part of the club’s philosophy.
– Are many of your players currently attracting interest from leading European clubs?
– Yes, and that is absolutely normal. We have already received offers for several of our players and turned them down. The thing is that the president has never viewed footballers purely as assets to be sold. If a young player has the potential to become even better, he wants to give him time. For him, the team’s sporting growth is more important than quick profit from a transfer. If a footballer is nineteen or twenty years old, is already playing in the Champions League and has the potential to become one of the best in his position, then why rush? That is why many of our players stay at the club longer than they might have otherwise. Of course, there are situations when an offer becomes so serious that it cannot be ignored, or when the player himself feels that it is time to move on. In such cases, the club is always ready for dialogue. But the main goal has never been simply to buy cheaper and sell for more. The main thing is to build a strong team.
– If we are talking about the biggest transfers in recent years, does Mudryk remain number one?
– From a financial point of view – definitely. The transfer of Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea became the biggest transfer in the club’s history. However, today we also have other players who are attracting the attention of leading European clubs. That means the system continues to work. Despite all the difficulties, Shakhtar remain a club that knows how to find, develop and take young footballers to the next level.
– We joined the club together with Roberto De Zerbi after several years of working together at Sassuolo. At the time, it was an extremely exciting project. Shakhtar had already been one of the strongest clubs in Eastern Europe for many years, regularly competing in the Champions League and having a clear vision for its development. We began our work with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, because of the war, that chapter lasted only seven months, but I realised just how special this club is even in such a short period of time.
– Were you in Ukraine on the day the full-scale invasion began?
– No. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was in South America at that moment. A few days before the invasion, I had travelled there on scouting-related business, so I was not physically in Ukraine. At the same time, I remained in constant contact with my colleagues. I was being updated almost minute by minute on everything that was happening. I stayed in touch with Roberto De Zerbi, the club’s directors and other staff members, so although I was thousands of kilometres away from Kyiv, I experienced those events alongside them emotionally.
– What were you feeling in those days?
– Those were very difficult days, especially considering that Russian troops were only a few dozen kilometres from the centre of Kyiv. That was frightening for everyone – not only foreigners, but Ukrainians themselves. No one can get used to war and no one can remain calm when there is a real threat to the city where they live. From what I understand from the people who were there at the time, the situation was very chaotic at first, but then, thanks to the character, determination and organisation of the Ukrainian people, everything changed. Kyiv held firm, and that became an immensely important moment for the whole country.
– Shakhtar have long been associated with Brazilian footballers. Is that a coincidence or a deliberate club strategy?
– It is absolutely a deliberate choice. If we are talking about the modern history of Shakhtar, its architect is Rinat Akhmetov, the club’s president. He has an excellent understanding of football, and there are actually not many presidents like that. Many years ago, he chose this path and has continued to follow it ever since. The president has always been in love with talent, especially when it comes to attacking players. He believes that wingers, forwards and playmakers should be capable of producing something special on the pitch. Of course, talented players can be found anywhere, but Brazilian football has always held a particular fascination for him. That is why players such as Douglas Costa, Fernandinho, Willian, Fred and many others have come through Shakhtar. Today, we continue to follow the same path. At the same time, we should not forget about Ukrainian players. Ukraine has always produced a great number of high-quality footballers.
– Were there moments when the war felt particularly close?
– There were many such moments. Especially at the beginning. In Ukraine, there is an app that allows you to monitor air raid alerts. Over time, my Ukrainian colleagues even taught me to understand some of the nuances. Quite often, just from the nature of the alerts, they can roughly tell whether it is drones or missiles and in which direction the threat is moving. However, there are things no app can prepare you for. I remember one night in Kyiv. It was around two o’clock in the morning. I woke up to a noise so loud that it felt as though gunfire was coming from inside my hotel room. That is how loud it was. It seemed as though something terrible was happening all around me. And it went on for several hours. Only later did I realise that it was Ukraine’s air defence forces intercepting missiles and drones. Those kinds of nights stay with you for a long time.
– You have got to know Ukraine and Ukrainians well over these years. How do you see them today?
– Ukrainians are a very strong nation. Very proud, very hard-working and extremely devoted to their country. That is one of the first things I understood while working here. We often talk about football, but in reality many things go far beyond it. Over these years, I have seen people who lost their homes, were forced to move to other cities or even other countries, but did not lose their sense of belonging to their land. This is especially noticeable during European matches. For many years now, we have not been able to play international matches in Ukraine, so we play in Poland, Germany and other European countries, but at every game we see a huge number of Ukrainians, and they are not only Shakhtar supporters. They are simply Ukrainians who come to support their country. Many people come with flags, many travel hundreds of kilometres for the sake of a few hours at the stadium. Even if someone has supported another club their whole life, they support Ukraine in moments like these. You can really feel that.
– Are you personally acquainted with people who have been directly affected by the war?
– Of course. There have been many such stories over these years. At our club, there have been people who voluntarily chose to go to the front, and some footballers have relatives who are fighting. And what impresses me the most is that many people would like to go and fight themselves. Perhaps for someone outside Ukraine it is difficult to understand, but there is a very strong sense of connection with one’s land here. People see the country as something personal, which is why they are ready to defend it. I do not want to talk about politics or military matters as that is not my area, but I can say one thing: Ukrainians do not give up. To make a Ukrainian surrender, you would literally have to tie their hands and feet. As long as they have even the slightest possibility to resist, they will fight.
– You have received offers from other clubs over these years. Why do you stay?
– I will be honest, I have never specifically looked for an opportunity to leave. Yes, there have been certain offers, but every time it was very difficult for me even to seriously consider leaving. The reason is simple – the people. Over these years, we have built a very strong bond, and we have gone through things together that people sometimes do not experience even over decades in normal life. I often say that five years in the current circumstances feel like twenty-five years of ordinary life. Such conditions bring people very close, so today it is difficult for me to imagine myself somewhere else.
– Despite the war, Shakhtar remains one of the most stable clubs in the region. Many people wonder how that is even possible in the current circumstances.
– I often think about that myself. To be honest, in my opinion, the main reason is the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov. Over the years I have worked in football, I have met many club owners and presidents, but there are not many people like him. He does not simply finance the club. He lives it. For him, Shakhtar is part of his life. It is also very important that he has an excellent understanding of football. Many presidents love football, but not all of them truly understand it. In Akhmetov’s case, that is exactly the situation. He always thinks strategically. Even now, when the club is forced to operate in extremely difficult conditions, he continues to look far ahead. Even during Roberto De Zerbi’s time at the club, we spoke a lot about the future of Shakhtar. The idea was very ambitious: not simply to dominate in Ukraine, but to gradually move closer to the level of the best clubs in Europe. Of course, no one was saying that Shakhtar would win the Champions League the next day, but we wanted to compete at the highest level, regularly reach the later stages of European competitions and gradually close the gap with the football elite. That is why the war became such a painful blow not only for the country, but also for the project itself.
– How big was the disappointment after this project was effectively brought to a halt?
– It was very big. We saw the potential, we saw the team’s capabilities and we saw how quickly it was developing. We had a young coach with a clear footballing idea, a club with great ambitions and players who were improving literally before our eyes. Of course, working now is much more difficult, but I’m convinced that the president’s strategic vision has not changed. If not today, then tomorrow he will once again want to see Shakhtar among the strongest clubs in Europe.
– Is that why the club continues to invest in young footballers?
– Exactly. If you look at our squad, you can see that the majority of players are very young. For us, a footballer at the age of 23 is already almost an experienced player. We are constantly looking for talent at an early stage of development. That is part of the club’s philosophy.
– Are many of your players currently attracting interest from leading European clubs?
– Yes, and that is absolutely normal. We have already received offers for several of our players and turned them down. The thing is that the president has never viewed footballers purely as assets to be sold. If a young player has the potential to become even better, he wants to give him time. For him, the team’s sporting growth is more important than quick profit from a transfer. If a footballer is nineteen or twenty years old, is already playing in the Champions League and has the potential to become one of the best in his position, then why rush? That is why many of our players stay at the club longer than they might have otherwise. Of course, there are situations when an offer becomes so serious that it cannot be ignored, or when the player himself feels that it is time to move on. In such cases, the club is always ready for dialogue. But the main goal has never been simply to buy cheaper and sell for more. The main thing is to build a strong team.
– If we are talking about the biggest transfers in recent years, does Mudryk remain number one?
– From a financial point of view – definitely. The transfer of Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea became the biggest transfer in the club’s history. However, today we also have other players who are attracting the attention of leading European clubs. That means the system continues to work. Despite all the difficulties, Shakhtar remain a club that knows how to find, develop and take young footballers to the next level.