Alan Dzagoev: Russia’s Euro 2012 star slowly fading into the abyss

But after Euro 2012, if his name wasn’t already known, it certainly was made known. And a club known for spotting raw talent, Arsenal, seemed poised to make their move. With one ageing and out of form Russian already on their books, Andrey Arshavin, Dzagoev seemed the ideal replacement.

Although a concrete offer was never officially made, it was seeming to be just a matter of time before CSKA parted ways with their new main star, but it for whatever reason, it hasn’t turned out that way for the time being at least. Let’s not write off him just yet, but it does seem, that he let the opportunity slip through his fingers when it seemed the perfect time to make the move West.

It isn’t just with CSKA where he has fallen slightly out of favour either. Fabio Capello, appointed head coach of the Russian national team following Euro 2012, seems unwilling to put too much faith into Dzagoev, and coupled with CSKA being out of Europe’s focus last season, it’s no wonder why everyone has forgotten about Russia’s brightest hope.

His talent was on showcase for at least some of Europe at the recent under 21 European championships in Israel, where he managed to score one goal and show himself in a good light in the two games in which he took part in, but his country’s early exit got in the way of showing what he could really do.

A new season brings new hope and opportunity though, and with CSKA competing in the Champions League group stage, he has yet another fantastic platform on which to showcase all of his abilities.

The season in Russia has already started, and while for Dzagoev himself things haven’t started off as he would have dreamt them, missing a penalty against Krylya Sovetov just a matter of hours after becoming a father, he should be saving himself for the upcoming Champions League in September.

There’s not much doubting about just what talent he possesses, and with this being a pretty tough time for Russia’s youth system, every single talented player for the future needs to be looked after, and not be let to slip by the wayside. With Dzagoev that shouldn’t be the case, after all winning the league crown with your club is no achievement to be sneered upon.

With personal matters he has to step up on his game, with only being 23 the best years of his career are still well ahead of him, but if those years of his career are going to be spent fulfilling his potential with one of Europe’s super clubs, or plying his trade with CSKA, will be decided in the near future.