Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick had high praise for Aleksey Batrakov ahead of today's Champions League meeting with Galatasaray, calling the 21-year-old a “great player” after watching his recent performances.
“I’ve seen many games, and after the last one, I have to say he’s a great player,” Flick said at his pre-match press conference. He also added: “If you’re young and talented, why not dream? We have to try everything.”
The comments add another layer of interest to a player who has already drawn attention across Europe. Earlier this month, Sporx reported that Chelsea and Manchester United had stepped up their scouting efforts for Batrakov, who joined Galatasaray from Lokomotiv Moscow in the summer for €25 million.
Batrakov has already shown why he is attracting notice. On Friday, he was a standout performer in Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Kasimpasa, finishing with two assists. That kind of output helps explain why his profile has risen so quickly since his move to Western Europe.
Why a bigger move could still be complicated
There is also a broader backdrop to Batrakov’s situation. The article surrounding his rise noted that moving from Russia to Western Europe has been difficult because of the geopolitical situation. Sanctions against Russia can make transfer payments to Russian clubs problematic, and that could complicate any future move to the Premier League.
That is why France or Spain may be more realistic landing spots than England while sanctions remain in place. The path has not been simple for other Russian players either. In 2023, Arsen Zakharyan moved to Spain, and in 2024, Matvey Safonov joined PSG from Krasnodar. Last year, Manchester United hosted Real Sociedad in the Europa League, and the UK government denied Zakharyan entry to the country.
For now, though, Batrakov’s immediate focus is much simpler: Galatasaray against Barcelona in the Champions League, with one of Europe’s top coaches publicly acknowledging his talent before kickoff.
