Sports press reports confirmed today that Colombian striker John Duran, on loan from Saudi club Al-Nasr, has officially ended his association with Turkish club Fenerbahce, heading towards a new professional experience in Russian stadiums, specifically with Russian football giant Zenit Saint Petersburg.
End of a short Turkish trip
According to the global network Foot Mercato, Doran's journey in European football is taking a rapid turn. After a remarkable spell with Al-Nassr in the second half of last season, where he displayed a high scoring instinct by netting 12 goals in 18 matches, the Riyadh-based club decided to loan him to Turkish side Fenerbahçe last summer. However, things didn't go as planned for the Colombian striker, as he faced significant difficulties adapting to the Turkish Super League, managing only 5 goals and 3 assists in 21 appearances. This prompted his decision to seek a move during the winter transfer window.
Behind the scenes of the failed French league negotiations
The report indicated that the final hours of the transfer window saw intense efforts from French club Lille to secure the player's services on loan, aiming to bolster their attack in Ligue 1. Despite mutual interest, the deal ran into a financial hurdle, as Lille's salary cap prevented them from finalizing the agreement and covering the Colombian player's wages, thus closing the door on his return to French football for the time being.
Zenit: The new destination and the Russian challenge
In a rapid turn of events, sources have revealed that John Duran finalized the termination of his loan with the Turkish club this morning and is currently en route to St. Petersburg airport. The player is set to join Zenit St. Petersburg on loan until the end of the current season, having received the green light from his parent club, Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
General context and importance of transition
Duran's move to the Russian league comes at a time when Zenit St. Petersburg is looking to consolidate its domestic dominance and continue relying on the Latin American school of football that has proven so successful for the club in recent years. Zenit is known for attracting stars from South America, which could provide a more conducive environment for the Colombian striker to rediscover his scoring touch compared to the hectic atmosphere of the Turkish league.
On the other hand, this move reflects Al-Nasr Club’s management strategy in managing the file of loaned professional players, as the management seeks to ensure the continuous participation of its players to maintain their market and technical value, instead of them remaining on the bench in clubs that do not suit their capabilities, which makes the Russian station a golden opportunity for Doran to prove his worth again before the possible return to Saudi stadiums or the final transfer.
