Real Madrid youngster Denis Cheryshev’s first call-up for Russia is an honor and a reward for hard work, his father Dmitry, a former international himself, told R-Sport on Wednesday.
The winger, 21, has yet to play a competitive game for Real’s senior team, but has impressed playing for the Spanish giants’ reserves and for Russia’s under-21 side, where he has scored six goals in 12 games.
He is one of 35 players to make Russia coach Fabio Capello's provisional squad Wednesday for the November 14 friendly against the United States.
"I'm very happy that I made it," the player said on Twitter.
“Even that he’s made this provisional squad is a big honor, we’re all very, very happy,” Dmitry Cheryshev said.
“He’s earned it with the hard work that he’s been doing.”
Dmitry Cheryshev earned the first of his 13 caps when he played for the CIS team that briefly represented the ex-Soviet Union in a game against the U.S., and pointed out the symmetry of the father and son’s situations.
“If the call-up to the national team somehow happens, then it’ll be a very beautiful storyline, because I also debuted sometime 20 years ago against the U.S. team,” he said.
Dmitry Cheryshev also had a warning for Denis not to get his hopes up yet.
“Making the provisional list doesn’t mean anything yet because the coaching staff still have to pick a final squad list for the national team, and whether Denis will make it into that isn’t known yet,” he said.
Denis Cheryshev came through the youth setups at Spanish sides Sporting Gijon and Burgos when his father, a striker, played there, before joining Real Madrid’s youth system, when Dmitry Cheryshev moved into youth coaching there.
Dmitry Cheryshev had a brief spell as coach of Russian Premier League side FC Volga last season, keeping the minnows in the top flight before leaving at the end of the season.
