Matvey Safonov, 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Russia goalkeeper, spoke to Sport Express on the sidelines of the Russian national team’s training camp. This was an opportunity to provide an update on his situation at PSG, with no playing time at the moment. He hasn’t ruled out a move, even if it’s not his priority.
Safonov: “We’ll have to decide my future when the transfer window opens.”
“A move this winter?”
We’ll have to decide my future when the transfer window opens. For now, I’m devoting all my time to changing the situation. I wouldn’t want to. I left to overcome difficulties, and it would be strange to give that up. On the contrary, we have to overcome them.”
Safonov: “I want to play and prove that I deserve playing time.”
But any offer must be examined, so everything will depend on the situation at the time of the transfer window. I want to prove that I deserve to play, I’m not satisfied with the lack of playing time. Naturally, I want to play and prove that I deserve to have playing time and that I can compete.
Is the competition tougher with Chevalier’s transfer?
I wouldn’t say the competition has become tougher. I’m not the one who decides the team’s composition. And I have nothing to say to the coach about the composition.”
The comments are quite clear, as always with the very honest Safonov. It’s appreciated; he’s not pretending, nor is he criticizing. He simply has ambition and the desire to play. Which is logical for a professional player. So he speaks out and emphasizes his desire to change the situation.
It’s better than some players who seem happy to simply collect their salary and turn down offers to leave, even though PSG is inviting them to leave. We now wait to find out the Russian goalkeeper’s future. He wants to establish himself at PSG, but he also doesn’t rule out a departure if he remains without playing and there is an interesting opportunity.