Denisov quits Zenit, Arshavin may retur

Igor Denisov © Action Images

Zenit St Petersburg's Russian international midfielder Igor Denisov has agreed terms to leave the club for Dagestani big spenders Anzhi, while Andrei Arshavin is in talks to return to his native club from Arsenal, reports said Friday.
The Sport Express and Sovietsky Sport newspapers said both teams had agreed on Denisov's move to Makhachkala-based Anzhi and the final contract would be signed in the next days.
The move of Denisov, 29, to the ambitious outfit from the northern Caucasus ends a glittering career with Zenit that he began as a teenager in 2001 and saw him win the Uefa Cup in 2008 as well as three Russian titles.
Denisov has 37 international caps and has been the captain of the national side under Fabio Capello since 2012.
However Denisov's love affair with Zenit went sour after the arrival of Brazilian star Hulk as he led an open rebellion about the foreign player's huge wage packet and was dogged by controversy over training ground bust-ups.
Arshavin was one of the stars of Zenit's 2008 Uefa Cup-winning side and Russia's Euro 2008 campaign. He then moved to Arsenal but his career failed to flourish despite a promising start and he spent most of the time on the bench.
Out of contract with Arsenal this summer, Arshavin, 32, is currently in Saint Petersburg to discuss a possible return to the club where he began his career, Russian reports said.
Sovietsky Sport said that Zenit's owners Gazprom were prepared to welcome Arshavin back and the player was set Friday to meet Italian manager Luciano Spalletti who would have the last word.