In search of an offensive reinforcement on this winter transfer window, the Paris Saint Germain seems to be looking towards Russia and St. Petersburg. Indeed, the Brazilian right winger Malcom (25) is in verve with Zenit and would not look unfavorably on the possibility of returning to a major club in Europe as we revealed to you. A clearly topical track, especially since the Russian club does not seem closed to a departure of its star. “No official offer has been received for Malcom, but there is interest from Paris Saint-Germain, I have spoken to Malcom and we are awaiting a formal offer, and if it comes we will consider it. It’s a good club, one of the best in modern European football. We would never force a player to stay, but Malcom is ready to fulfill his contract obligations with us.” said coach Sergey Semak in particular.
In case of arrival at Paris Saint-Germain, Malcom will be particularly expected, he who had already tasted the Ligue 1 with the Girondins de Bordeaux between 2016 and 2018 (23 goals and 16 offerings in 98 matches). Then spent a year at FC Barcelona (24 matches, 4 goals and 2 offerings), Malcom was then off the radar of the biggest championships after a transfer for 40 million euros to Zenit Saint Petersburg. A contested choice at the time since despite reduced playing time in Catalonia, his performances were encouraging and a departure to Russia seemed like a step back for the former Corinthians. A decision that the main interested party explained to us in an exclusive interview : “the very little I played, I took advantage, I did my job well. I scored important goals for the club and for my career. I have nothing to say, I will thank FC Barcelona for everything. Without Barcelona I wouldn’t be here… The very little I’ve played, I’ve enjoyed with the best players in the world, won titles and scored goals […] All football players need to play and it’s no different with me. I wanted to play, to have more minutes of play. The choice was easy, because Zenit plays the European Cup, the Champions League every year. And that does not close the door for me to return to Europe in two or three seasons. Visionary?
Complicated beginnings in Russia then confirmation
Hampered by a major hip injury during his first season in Saint Petersburg (15 matches, 4 goals and 3 offerings), Malcom struggled to launch his adventure in the Land of the Tsars, but it was quickly sorted out. With the gradual establishment of a Brazilian diaspora around him (Douglas Santos, Wendel, Claudinho, Rodrigão, Robert Renan and Gustavo Mantuan are at Zenit), the left-hander has slowly taken the measure of the place that Zenit granted him in his project. After a fairly timid second season (2020/2021) where he scored 3 goals and delivered 4 offerings in 25 matches, he will participate in the Olympic Games with Brazil and win the title. A nice reward that will make him come back with more protagonism. Benefiting from the incorporation of Claudinho into the workforce which has rebalanced the offensive sector, he will really become the boss of Zenit during the 2021/2022 season with 9 goals and 8 offerings in 35 games.
A process that took time, but which he explained in an interview for Sport 24 : “Something similar happened to me in France, in Bordeaux. Again, it took time to adapt, and the second year I played with more confidence and I was stronger. Here, this process was delayed a bit because of my injuries, but I think now is my best moment in my Russian career. I want to score even more goals, help my partners even more often. And, of course, to take all the new titles, because that’s what I’m here for. I am a winner in spirit and always strive to prove it in practice.” Continuing to prove is what he will continue to do. Feeling good in Russia, he also extended last summer until 2027 with Zenit and he came back with ambition.
Malcom’s dream season
While he won the Russian three times Premier League (2020, 2021 and 2022), three times the Russian Super Cup (2021, 2022 and 2023) and once the Cup (2020), Malcom risks filling his trophy cabinet a little more, whether he stays or he leave. With 13 rounds remaining, Zenit are a solid leader with 6 points ahead of Spartak Moscow and remains engaged in the National Cup (1/8th final). Although deprived of the European Cup after the UEFA sanctions against Russia following the War in Ukraine, Malcom and Zenit delivered a first part of the season of high quality. A strongman in the attacking sector, Malcom is the third top scorer in the championship (12 goals) behind Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow, 14 goals) and Vladimir Pisarskiy (Orenburg, 14 goals). All competitions combined, he took part in 23 games for 15 offerings and 7 assists. A huge impact from Malcom who gives the 25-year-old the best version of his career.
If a loss of level in the Russian championship in recent years weighs the situation a little, the visual feeling remains marked for Malcom who has gone from a stereotypical player on his first appearances to a much more mature element in his football production. While Zenit will return to official Russian Cup competition on February 25 in the Russian Cup against Volga Ulyanovsk, it will be whatever happens without Malcom. Indeed, the Brazilian winger was pinned in a general fight on November 27 during a Russian Cup match against Spartak Moscow (0-0, 4-2 on penalties) where five other players (Rodrigão and Wilmar Barrios for Zenit, Aleksandr Selikhov, Aleksandr Sobolev and Shamar Nicholson for Spartak Moscow) also fought. Receiving a heavy suspension of 6 matches, he has at least the chance to see this sanction only applicable during this competition. In the event of departure, he will not be affected. Having slowly become a must at Zenit, Malcom seems ready to take the plunge to return through the front door to the European gratin. Leaving a good image in Russia, he nevertheless risks ending his adventure at Zenit with a funny event.
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