Tuesday, 12th February, 2013
Brazilian striker Hulk has defended his decision to move to Zenit St. Petersburg last summer, while accepting that part of the reason he joined the Russian champions was the money on offer.
Zenit paid around €40M to sign Hulk from Portuguese giants FC Porto, a swoop which astonished the football world, given how the powerful forward had been continually linked with English Premier League side Chelsea throughout the summer.
Hulk’s time in Russia has not gone completely smoothly and he threatened to leave the club in December, citing an issue with coach Luciano Spalletti.
But he has cut a happier figure now.
"I will not lie, people know I am a player and I have to seize the moment", he told Tutto Mercato.
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"Obviously, I chose Zenit also for economic reasons. However, Zenit are a club that are growing, have a good infrastructure and are investing.
"From here, in a couple of years, they will be one of the strongest clubs in Europe."
The Russian Premier League is currently on its winter break and is not due to resume until March.
Zenit currently sit third in the table, three points behind second placed Anzhi Makhachkala and four off league leaders CSKA Moscow.
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