Forward of the Ukrainian national team Vladislav Vanat commented on his transfer from Kyiv’s "Dynamo" to the Spanish "Girona" during a broadcast on the UAF YouTube channel, as well as assessed the upcoming opponent of the Ukrainian national team in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup — the French national team.
Vladislav Vanat— How did your transfer to "Girona" happen?
— My agents called me on the phone and said that there was a possibility to move to "Girona". At first, I can say I didn’t believe it, but as the situation developed, I realized that anything was possible.
— How do you feel now that this transfer has happened?
— To be honest, I still don’t believe it. It seems that after the national team, I need to go to Kyiv, but I don’t anymore. It’s both sad and joyful at the same time. Rebrov said he finally saw me smile, although I smiled before. Maybe just not in front of him.
— How has your mood and motivation changed after moving to "Girona"?
— Even now at training, you work and think that you are a player of a European club, and it’s a bit different attitude towards yourself on the football field. And my confidence in my abilities has grown.
— Is it already normal to see "Dynamo" in "Girona"?
— It turns out yes, after Tsygankov, I am already the second.
— Did you talk to Tsygankov before moving to "Girona"?
— A few days before my transfer, we were in touch, and Vitya gave a positive review. He immediately sent me a photo from the "Girona" locker room: there was his place with his surname, and next to it — an empty place without a name. And he said that soon my initials would be there.
— What can you say about the upcoming opponent of the Ukrainian national team in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup — the French national team?
— It’s a strong team. Probably, in terms of player selection, it’s the best national team in the world. Of course, we need to go out and play against them, to win, because that’s what we’ve been working for since childhood, for such matches.
— When will the current national team gathering be considered successful?
— Of course, if we win matches against France and Azerbaijan. Then everyone will find it easier to come to the national team for the next gatherings.
