Vanja Drkušić (foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Zenit will cover Vanja Drkušić’s €1.2M salary during his loan at Red Star Belgrade, with an option for Red Star to purchase him in May 2024.
The saga surrounding Vanja Drkušić and his move to Red Star Belgrade has taken another significant turn, with new details emerging about the loan deal. After months of negotiations, Red Star finally secured the Slovenian international defender on a one-year loan from Zenit St. Petersburg.
The story began last summer when Red Star’s sporting directors, Mitar Mrkela and Marko Marin, identified Drkušić as a key addition to their defense, potentially replacing Strahinja Eraković. Despite a prolonged effort to pry Drkušić away from Sochi, the negotiations with the club’s owner, Boris Rotenberg, proved challenging, leading Red Star to temporarily step back while waiting for the right moment to strike.
Zenit’s involvement facilitated the move, effectively removing competition and allowing Drkušić to join Red Star on loan. Although Red Star is already well-stocked with central defenders, the club saw this as an opportunity to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
There is a strong possibility that Drkušić could be registered for the Champions League playoff squad, although it remains uncertain how quickly he will be ready to contribute after a one-month break. He will need time to adjust to coach Vladan Milojević’s system and the demands of the team.
From a financial standpoint, the deal is highly favorable for Red Star. Zenit will cover Drkušić’s annual salary of over €1.2 million, a gesture that can be seen as part of Gazprom’s continued support, as the company remains Red Star’s main sponsor.
Drkušić himself was eager to join Red Star, especially with the prospect of playing in European competitions with a club he holds dear. He will spend the next year on loan in Belgrade, but there is a possibility that he could remain there permanently. According to sources, Red Star and Zenit will discuss a potential purchase next May, with Zenit having paid €4 million to acquire Drkušić from Sochi.
Upon Drkušić’s arrival, Red Star will have five central defenders in their squad: captain Nemanja Spajić, Nasser Djiga, Nemanja Stojić, and youngsters Stefan Leković and Andrej Đurić. However, it is likely that two of these players will leave before the transfer window closes, with the most interest being shown in Djiga, who could potentially bring Red Star a €5 million transfer fee.