That the January transfer window is an important time for many clubs and players, is no less true for the struggling Russian Football Premier League side Rubin Kazan. Hard times have fallen on the club this year, but after a relatively positive Europa League run, there are some funds available, and the club are expected to become active in the transfer market.
This recent upturn appears to have had no effect on outgoing transfers, however, in that Carlos Eduardo, Rubin’s €20 million record signing from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2010 could be set to depart the club this winter—Eduardo has been the subject of transfer speculations for more than a year now.
Having come close to a move to German side 1. FC Köln in the summer of 2015, a combination of Rubin’s new arrivals and the fact that Carlos Eduardo’s contract ends in just six months, means that his departure will likely take place during the winter. Rubin are currently looking to free up a legionnaire (as foreigners are called in Russian football) spot in their squad, as well as trying to cut down on their wage spending. Also there is the fact that this is the last time that the club would be able to cash in on Eduardo.
Another consideration is the fact that, since the start of the 2014-15 season, Kadu, as fans and friends alike affectionately know him, has become a very important player for Rubin. This was a remarkable turnaround, given the fact that Eduardo had a dreadful time at Rubin Kazan when he first joined them in 2010, and in January 2013 was loaned out to Flamengo Rio de Janeiro. But after returning from his loan spell at Flamengo in the summer of 2014, he was whipped into shape by new manager, Rinat Bilyaletdinov, and became a vital component in the Rubin team, clearly improving their quality through his amazing speed and outstanding creativity.
Carlos Eduardo has been a noticeable absence from the Rubin squad that has gathered for their first winter training camp in Portugal. A look at his social media pages shows that he has been in both Germany and Brazil, and has met with his agent on a number of occasions. The fact that the club’s two recent additions (Zenit St Petersburg’s Russian winger Denis Tkachuk and new legionnaire, Hajduk Split’s Mijo Caktaš) can play the same position as Eduardo, is further indication that Eduardo could be leaving the club.
While transfer speculation is rife, with Carlos Eduardo being linked to both of his former sides, Hoffenheim and Grêmio, there has been no concrete information so far. (Sovsport has even gone so far as to quote Eduardo denying the rumours.) A source inside the club, however, has informed Futbolgrad that his primary objective is to leave the club: “It’s possible for Kadu to stay if he cannot find a new club, but he has options in Germany and Brazil. If he does not find a club before Rubin’s training camp in Spain, then it is likely he will re-join the squad.”
Whatever happens, it appears certain that Carlos Eduardo will leave the club in the next six months. Whether Rubin are able to hang on to him until summer remains to be seen, but it is likely that the club will try to sell him in the winter in order to gain much needed financial breathing room that would allow the Tatarstani club to strengthen other areas of the team in anticipation of a tough relegation battle in the second half of the season.
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