ST. PETERSBURG, July 19 (R-Sport) – Brazilian star striker Hulk has been recalled to Russian football team Zenit St. Petersburg for Sunday’s trip to Rubin Kazan, ending a rest period that had fuelled rumors of an imminent transfer.
Coach Luciano Spalletti said he would pick Hulk, who missed Zenit’s first two games of the season after returning from Confederations Cup action with Brazil.
“Hulk is an important player for us and he feels good. He’ll head to Kazan with the team,” Spalletti said.
"As regards taking part in the game, then you need to understand how much he hasn't been training and we will decide that before the match."
Hulk’s absence from training and the team was taken by some in the British media as a sign that he could be heading to Chelsea, but those rumors were dealt a blow when Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Thursday the club would not bid for anyone but Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.
Without Hulk, Zenit suffered a 3-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow in the Russian Super Cup and started their league campaign with a faltering 2-1 win at FC Krasnodar.
Hulk, 26, joined Zenit for €40 million from Porto in September and scored 11 goals in 30 games last season.
Last season, he threatened to leave Zenit after a falling-out with coach Luciano Spalletti, who he accused of substituting him too often, and his teammates. Hulk later backed down and said he had “messed up” in asking to leave.
One player who will be missing from the Zenit squad for the trip to Kazan is first-choice goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, still sidelined with an injury he picked up in the off-season, Spalletti said. Taking his place for the third game running will be new signing Yury Lodygin.
Midfielder Roman Shirokov will travel with the team after recovering from a minor injury dating back to a pre-season friendly, while young defender Milan Rodic is a doubt after over-exerting himself in training, Spalletti said.
