Vyacheslav Shevchuk speaks on Yaroslav Rakitskyi's time in Russia
Former Shakhtar defender comments on his teammate's career decision to play in Russia, stating he does not judge his former colleague for it.
Photo: sport.ua
Former Shakhtar Donetsk defender Vyacheslav Shevchuk has addressed the period when his former teammate Yaroslav Rakitskyi played in Russia. Between 2019 and 2022, the Ukrainian defender played for Zenit before terminating his contract and leaving the country immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion.
Shevchuk admitted that this career choice did not alter his perception of the player. He noted that he chose not to offer advice or question the defender's professional decisions at the time.
He remained the same person. And where he plays is exclusively his decision. I didn't ask questions or advise him on this. He is an adult and makes his own decisions. At the end of the day, everyone has the right to make a mistake. Vyacheslav Shevchuk
Rakitskyi's final club as a professional was Chornomorets Odesa. Recently, he officially announced his retirement from professional football.