The Russian Premier League will be the equal of the English and Spanish leagues in a few years, Spartak Moscow defender Nicolas Pareja has told R-Sport.
UEFA ranks the Russian league as Europe’s seventh-strongest, based on Russian clubs’ performances in European competition, down from sixth in the 2010-11 season, but up from 18th a decade ago.
“There are England, Spain and Germany, but Russia is working to become one of them,” Pareja said Friday.
“I think in several years Russia will also be one of the strongest.”
Pareja said the standard of competition had increased since he joined Spartak from Spanish La Liga side Espanyol in 2010.
“Good new players are coming every year and the championship is becoming more difficult.”
Pareja, 28, was the part of the Argentina team that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and has one full cap.
