Khagush chases the dream to Kazan
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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Russian titleholders FC Rubin Kazan have signed defender Anri Khagush from Belarussian side FC BATE Borisov, whose president Anatoli Kapski said that the 22-year-old has "the makings of an international player".
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Premier-Liga champions FC Rubin Kazan have signed defender Anri Khagush from Belarussian side FC BATE Borisov, whose president Anatoli Kapski said the 22-year-old has "the makings of a Russian national-team player".
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Right-back Khagush played in five of BATE's UEFA Champions League group-stage games in the autumn and won the last three Belarussian titles with the club. FC Zenit St. Petersburg were also interested in signing the player, but Rubin won out, though no details have been released of any transfer fee or of the contract the player has signed.
Kuban next
Kapski had been keen to persuade Khaghush to take Belarussian citizenship, but feels the player is now destined for bigger things. He said: "Anri played well in 2008 and we could have made him a Belarus Under-21 player. However, he now has the makings of a Russian international player." Rubin kick off their title defence against promoted FC Kuban Krasnodar on 14 March and will make their UEFA Champions League debut in the 2009/10 group stage, with the draw on 27 August. BATE will begin in the second qualifying round on 14/15 and 21/22 July.