Spartak Moscow sporting director Francis Cagigao said the club had not negotiated with Artem Dzyuba or his representatives. The striker announced his retirement in early October.
Cagigao was responding to reports that the forward could return to Spartak. Dzyuba’s agent, Leonid Goldman, had earlier said such a move was possible, but that the sporting director opposed it. Cagigao rejected that account and told reporters he did not understand the attention around the same footballer, adding that Dzyuba was “not exactly Lionel Messi.”
Dzyuba played for Spartak from 2006 to 2015. He finished as a Russian Premier League runner-up with the club three times, in 2006, 2007 and 2012. After leaving Tolyatti’s Akron at the end of last season, he was a free agent and did not find a club during the summer transfer window.
The 38-year-old announced his retirement in early October. Dzyuba is the top scorer in the history of Russian football.