Al Shavin: Every time Real Madrid loses, it is a kind of spiritual comfort for me

Hupu September 30th Al Shawen, former Arsenal and Almaty Keirat forward, has now become a TV commentator. In an interview with the media, he expressed his hope that Keirat will beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

"I hope Keirat wins, and every loss of Real Madrid is a kind of spiritual comfort for me," he said with a smile outside the Central Stadium in Almaty.

The 44-year-old former Russian international never conceals his love for Barcelona, ​​and even sent his son Alsheni to the Barcelona youth training camp in Moscow for training in 2019. Spanish player Cesar Arzo, who once fought side by side, once commented: "He is a Barcelona football hooligan." Arshavin has been close to joining Barcelona twice: the first time was in 2008, when Zenit rejected the offer from Barcelona and eventually sold him to Arsenal; the second time was in the summer of 2009, when he was unhappy with the Gunners and once wanted to go to Barcelona.

On the day of retirement, Al Shawen revealed: "In the summer of 2008, Barcelona offered Zenit 15 million euros, but the club refused. To be honest, they didn't want to sell me. I wanted to go to Barcelona at that time, but eventually went to Arsenal, which was also good."

He also said that the long journey from Spain to Kazakhstan affected the physical fitness of Real Madrid players. "For Russians and Kazakhstans, it is normal to fly so far, but for Europeans, this distance is enough to span Europe seven times. Xavi Alonso did a great job in Leverkusen, but it would be very difficult to replicate that style of play at Real Madrid. Even if he continues to use it, it will never be exactly the same as the time of the pharmaceutical factory."