£3m ace has ‘no regrets’ about failed Rangers move despite 1 start since

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Gamid Agalarov’s father is convinced that the £3 million striker made the right move going to Akhmat Grozny over the summer despite interest from Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, speaking to Sport24. 

When a centre-forwards bursts onto the scene with a flurry of goals one season, only to see them dry up the next, it’s usually not long before some rather probing questions start to be asked. Is Agalarov, the Russian Premier League’s Golden Boot winner in 2021/22, merely a flash in the pan? 

Can his 20 goals for a relegated FC Ufa side be replicated at a club with greater expectations, and greater ambitions?  

Questions Agalarov must answer, after netting just once in his first seven RPL games for a Europe-chasing Akhmat Grozny side. 

Rangers wanted Gamid Agalarov but he stayed in Russia

“There are no doubts about the move to Akhmat,” retorts Ruslan Agalarov, the Russia U21 international’s father. “This is a good club. Communication with the management made a good impression. (They are) professionals in their field.

“Why should there be doubt? The only thing is that (Agalarov) does not play. In any case, the coach determines (who plays). Of course, there is no regret.”

Agalarov’s agent admitted to Eurostavka earlier this week that Rangers were ‘extremely interested’ in his client. The Gers, he adds, ‘weren’t able to put together a concrete proposal’ however before turning to Antonio Colak instead. 

With 13 goals in 18 games for the Croatian, that has worked out rather well for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Agalarov, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on a morale-boosting strike in the Russian cup against Orenburg on Wednesday. 

“Agalarov came to Akhmat when our pre-season training was over,” says former Grozny coach Andrey Talalaev, explaining why the striker has started just one RPL game so far (Championat). 

“It didn’t work out for him. If he had scored against Zenit and Spartak, he would have earned more playing time. I have said before that, if you score, you play.”