Zenit Saint Petersburg defender Igor Diveev was shortlisted for a transfer by English Premier League club Manchester City, according to former CSKA Moscow head coach Viktor Goncharenko.
Speaking to Russian sports news website Championat, Goncharenko revealed that the English champions began monitoring the 26-year-old center-back after completing the transfer of midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko from Russian club Ufa.
Goncharenko explained that he had offered personal recommendations to European player agencies regarding Diveev's potential. He also highlighted Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan as another talent worthy of attention from top European leagues.
According to Goncharenko, Manchester City kept Diveev on their scouting shortlist following Zinchenko's arrival in England, but interest stalled. Goncharenko noted that international teams appear to have been scared off from pursuing deals by the current political situation surrounding Russian football.
Career progression and domestic success
Diveev made his top-flight debut with FC Ufa, remaining with the club until 2019 before moving to CSKA Moscow, one of the most successful clubs in Russian football history. He established himself as a starter in Moscow before making a major domestic move to Zenit Saint Petersburg during the winter transfer window of 2026.
The move paid immediate dividends as Diveev helped Zenit secure the Russian Premier League championship shortly after his arrival. Over the course of the previous season, the defender made 34 appearances across all competitions while representing both CSKA Moscow and Zenit Saint Petersburg, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Transfer valuation and European scouting
According to player valuation website Transfermarkt, Diveev holds an estimated market value of 10 million euros. The 26-year-old has long been regarded as one of the country's prominent defensive talents, having developed through Ufa's youth system before playing for Russia's top clubs.
Manchester City previously scouted the Russian market when they signed Zinchenko from Ufa in 2016, with the Ukrainian international going on to win multiple domestic honors in England. Spertsyan, the other player recommended by Goncharenko to European scouts, continues to play for Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League.
