Former USSR and Russia midfielder Alexander Mostovoy says Matvey Safonov was right to move abroad, but does not believe the goalkeeper has surpassed Igor Akinfeev.
Speaking to online publication Euro-Football.Ru, Mostovoy rejected the suggestion that Safonov should now be ranked above Akinfeev, who spent his career in Russia and did not play or win trophies in Europe.
“Of course not! What are you talking about?” Mostovoy said. “If Safonov is sent from Paris to Nice now, do you think he will become a champion? Of course not. They will score against him just as they score against other goalkeepers.”
Mostovoy said he had identified Safonov’s potential soon after the goalkeeper emerged at Krasnodar.
“When Safonov first appeared at Krasnodar, after two or three games I said he would be the best goalkeeper we had and the goalkeeper of the national team,” he said.
Safonov joined Paris from Krasnodar and, according to Mostovoy, has already benefited from taking the opportunity to continue his career abroad.
“I am saying that Safonov did everything right by leaving,” Mostovoy said. “He is enjoying this life now. Many people said, ‘How will he go there?’ I said even then that he had to run there! Run!”
“He has played there for three years and already has a collection of trophies.”
Mostovoy nevertheless named Rinat Dasaev as the greatest goalkeeper in the history of Russian football.
“For me, the best goalkeeper in our history is Rinat Dasaev, who even won the award for the best goalkeeper of the year,” he added.