Malcom and Claudinho to obtain Russian nationality

Zenit St Petersburg's Brazilian players Malcom and Claudinho will obtain Russian natinality after receiving the go-ahead from the relevant authorities, the football team's general director, Alexandr Medvedev, told the official TASS news agency.

"We were informed of this and (the approval) made the players happy. Now we are waiting for the date of the swearing-in ceremony to be set," he explained. Until they finally receive the Russian identity card in hand, it may be many months or even years before they receive it.

The Zenit executive stressed that Malcom and Claudinho obtaining Russian nationality does not mean that they can immediately play for the Russian national team.

"Nationality of the country is not equivalent to sports one. It must take some time before they can play for the Russian national team," Medvedev said.

Last September Zenit's general director told 'TASS' that if the two players obtain Russian nationality in 2024 in the case of Malcom and in 2026 in the case of Claudinho, it will be possible to talk about obtaining sporting nationality, which is equivalent to the right to play for the Russian national team.

 

February 16, 2023