The Iranian star is said to have had his head turned by the alleged interest from clubs including Everton and Celtic.
Everton and Celtic are among the clubs to have approached Rubin Kazan about a deal for Sardar Azmoun last summer, the Russian side’s manager Kurban Berdyev has claimed – as quoted by the Scottish Sun.
Azmoun, dubbed the Iranian Messi, scored 12 goals and created another three for FC Rostov last season, which also piqued the attention of Arsenal – as well as Everton and Celtic.
And Berdyev has conceded that Azmoun – who only moved back to Kazan last July – had his head turned by the interest from British clubs – of which Everton’s would appear to have been the most serious.
“There was huge, crazy interest in Azmoun in the summer,” said Berdyev. “Top clubs called us and his father – Arsenal and Celtic. The Everton owner [British-Iranian businessman, Farhad Moshiri] came on to me and tried to negotiate a transfer.
“Azmoun has millions of fans and gets incredible attention, he could not cope with his load. After a good season with Rostov, it all turned his head – but he has passed through that now.”
Despite Berdyev’s insistence that Azmoun is now ‘back to himself’, the 30-cap Iran star has looked a shadow of last season’s player – and took 21 appearances to register his first goal.
He also provided an assist in that game, although it was only his third of the campaign.
Did Everton and Celtic dodge a bullet with Azmoun?
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