The key facts
- Maxim Glushenkov, the RPL's top scorer (10 goals in 11 rounds), did not make the extended 36-player national team list.
- Sport-Express cites disciplinary reasons, Championat says the player asked not to be called up; no official version has been confirmed.
- Russia will play Venezuela on November 17 in Krasnodar.
Glushenkov left out of the extended squad
Zenit midfielder Maxim Glushenkov, the top scorer of the Russian championship with ten goals in 11 RPL rounds, did not make even the extended squad of the national team for the November friendlies. The list of 36 players was published by the Russian Football Union, Life.ru reports.
Reasons not officially confirmed
According to Sport-Express, head coach Valery Karpin made the decision on disciplinary grounds — the coach allegedly had questions about the player's attitude to his work. However, the national team has not yet officially confirmed this version. Other sources cite different reasons: Championat claims that Glushenkov himself asked not to be called up for the November matches, and there were also reports that Zenit representatives and the national team had agreed on releasing the player. The outlets differ in their interpretation, and there is no reliable official version at this point.
Context and squad
Glushenkov's absence stands out against the backdrop of his productivity: he leads the RPL not only in goals but also in the goals-plus-assists system with 12 points. At the previous training camp, the player got playing time in matches against Iran, Namibia and Nigeria, and in September he was included in the extended list of 38 players for the autumn camp. Zenit in the new squad is represented by Denis Adamov, Artyom Karpukas and Alexander Sobolev. Among those called up are also PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, Monaco midfielder Alexander Golovin, Arsen Zakharyan of Real Sociedad and Alexey Miranchuk of Atlanta. According to the RFU, the Russian national team will play Venezuela on November 17 in Krasnodar.
Why it matters
The decision on the championship's top scorer directly affects the national team's attacking potential in the final matches of the year and the player's own standing in Karpin's squad. For fans and clubs, the practical consequence is a changed lineup for the November camp against Venezuela; meanwhile, due to conflicting versions from sources, the real reason for Glushenkov's absence remains unknown until official confirmation.
