Balazs Dzsudzsak: I have moved to Anzhi and I am proud of myself

What does a European player feel having just signed a contract with Anzhi?

I am really happy. I’m also proud of myself. I won’t disclose the transfer amount, but I know that I’m the third most expensive player in the history of PSV. I am particularly happy, because I’m going to a club at that very moment when it is going to take a big leap in the history of football. Anzhi has a great future and I want to be part of it. In general, I am very happy with where I’m going.

Why is it Anzhi? Everybody has been waiting for years for your move to a top European league and now, all of a sudden, you join to a Russian club.

I have been gathering information about Anzhi. It’s always interesting to collect information on a team interested in signing you. I’ve never had any absolute, one-hundred-percent offers from any club. Except for Anzhi. They have shown they really wanted to intercept me. I communicated with the directors of Anzhi and have understood that the management there is excellent. The whole process was a bit complicated, but the last two weeks have passed very smoothly: I’ve been meeting them and learning what are they going to achieve. Anzhi have a good team, they are currently second in the Russian championship. Everyone in Hungary has been asking me: «Why are you going there? We don’t know anything about that club.» Yes, you have to admit the truth: Anzhi don’t have a past. But I know they have a future. And I also know these are not just top managers’ words. For me that was enough to make up my mind.

Anzhi now have a lot of money to spend. Everyone is sure you have fallen for it.

I won’t lie to you: naturally, money is important. If you are going to a top club, nobody asks you about money, because it is already clear that the money there is big. In Europe nobody is surprised by such transfers. But when a little-known club is interested in you, everyone says: «Of course, Dzsudzsak went there for money. If he were a nice guy, he wouldn’t do that». I want to be a big player – and I think I will be able to progress after my transfer to Anzhi. We can compare the leagues in Holland and Russia and I think that the Russian one is stronger. Thus I had at least two solid reasons to take this step. One is money. The other one is the level of football.

Anzhi represent quite a troubled region. How did your parents let you go there? What did your mom say, for example?

They have reacted calmly. We live in a time when there are loads of information available for us. I know that Anzhi players train and live in Moscow. For me it was the most important question: where will I live? If we train in Moscow and only fly to Dagestan for the games – of course, it’s completely safe. Moreover, as far as I know, everything is now fine in Dagestan. Excellent weather, people who are happy to live there, and no danger. I have nothing to be afraid of. By the way, my mom speaks perfect Russian – she has been working as a teacher of Russian. Therefore, I already have an interpreter.

It is clear that you are not going to spend your whole career at Anzhi. What is your global dream?

I do have a dream and I’m not going to give up on it. In the future, when I succeed with Anzhi, when we get to the new level, and establish ourselves as a top team, I would like to take one more step and find myself at a Spanish top club. Spain is that dream.

Have you already got acquainted with the owner of Anzhi Suleiman Kerimov?

No, not yet.

Have you heard the story about Kerimov, Roberto Carlos and Bugatti Veyron [given to the Brazilian as a birthday present – Sports.ru]?

Of course! Both in Hungary and in Europe this story was all over the newspapers. Still, that’s one of the most expensive cars on Earth…

If Kerimov suddenly asked you what is the car you’ve never had, what would you answer?

I don’t know. For me the most important thing in life is health. If you are healthy, it means you can live, play football, and enjoy your life. The rest is much less important… Though, probably, everyone has his favourite car. Mine is BMW M6.

How did they bid farewell to you at PSV? Have you already had your send-off party?

After the contract signing my family, friends, agent, and I will go and have a dinner to celebrate the transfer. I’ll tell you once again: I am is proud of myself, I am proud of my agents that this transaction went through. I am the most expensive player in Hungary, it also matters. I am happy, but I feel calm. I am going to a good place.

When will we see you for the first time in Anzhi shirt?

I have to join the team on July 4, at the training camp. But now I’m at the beginning of my vacation. A couple of days ago I played for the Hungary national team. Now I’m waiting for my girlfriend to pass her examinations at the university – she studies law. As soon as she is done with that, we will have a holiday. It will be a full-fledged holiday, without telephone or any other means of communication. A pure holiday to freshen up your mind.

Where are you going? Mauritius? Maldives? Easter Island?

No, it will be in France. We are going to Saint-Tropez.

by Yuri Dud