Vice-president of “Metalist 1925” Yuriy Korotun spoke about the transfer of defender Illya Krupsky from “Vorskla”.
Illya Krupsky— Your loudest transfer this winter is the move from “Vorskla” of Illya Krupsky. Tell us how you managed to win the competition for the talented defender from “Shakhtar”, as it is known that “Metalist 1925” and the Donetsk club activated his clause almost simultaneously?
— That’s right, both clubs activated Krupsky's clause, which was three million euros. Everything was within the framework of gentlemanly competition; we were on equal terms with “Shakhtar”. Regarding communication with the player, I cannot say what conditions “Shakhtar” offered; I do not have that information.
Our president and chairman of the supervisory board, Bohdan Boyko, communicated with Krupsky for a long time, explaining the prospects and what we want to build in “Metalist 1925” and the role Illya will play in the future of our team. Perhaps our arguments were more convincing than those of “Shakhtar”.
— Ihor Burbas wrote in his Telegram channel that Krupsky agreed to a contract with “Metalist 1925” due to the persuasion of agents who received 500 thousand dollars in commission from the club. How can you comment on this information?
— Probably, Burbas knows better ((laughs, — note A. P.)). Let's consider this story comprehensively. If Illya chose this agent, then he trusts him. In this transfer history, they are on the same side, so the agent's interest should equal the player's interest in choosing a club where he will be better off. If the player agreed to the transfer, then it cannot be a decision made by the agent. Metalist 1925 achieved the result we wanted — we invited a promising player to the team, who we rely on.
— And still, did “Metalist 1925” pay 500 thousand dollars to Krupsky’s agent to persuade him to join your club?
— No!
— Krupsky will spend the second part of the season on loan at “Vorskla”. He did not want to play in the First League?
— This was one of the points of the transfer in the earlier stages of negotiations. If Illya had signed a contract with Shakhtar, it would have been the same — he would have spent the second part of the season at Vorskla. Of course, we wanted Illya to strengthen us in winter, but we hope that in the summer he will be even stronger and ready for competition.
Andriy Piskun
