Igdisamov says rising price and tactical fit ruled out CSKA move for Juan Santos

CSKA head coach Dmitry Igdisamov said the club abandoned a move for Göztepe forward Juan Santos after the asking price almost doubled during negotiations and questions remained about his suitability for the team's needs.

Speaking to Sport-Express, the coach said the requested fee was difficult to justify given the adaptation the player would require. At that price, he wanted someone ready to enter the starting lineup and make an immediate contribution.

Igdisamov described Juan Santos as a player who is not a pure centre-forward. At Göztepe, he generally attacks from the left, using his speed and available space to beat defenders, break away or deliver a pass.

The coach linked those qualities to the Turkish team's approach of defending deep and moving quickly into counterattacks. Its forwards make diagonal runs for passes forward when possession is regained.

CSKA, he said, more often encounter opponents defending in a low block in the Russian league. A fast attacker would have less space in those matches, so the club sought a forward with different qualities.

Igdisamov said Juan Santos could potentially have been integrated into CSKA's approach at an acceptable price. The combination of cost and tactical requirements ultimately ruled out the deal. CSKA sit fourth in the RPL after nine rounds with 19 points.