Lokomotiv make Sarkisov their first signing

Today, Lokomotiv Moscow officially announced the signature of Artur Sarkisov from Lokomotiv-2 Moscow, Lokomotiv's farm club. The player, who is just 23 years old penned a year-and-a-half contract with the capital club. Obviously given that Loko-2 is part of the Lokomotiv football society, there was no transfer fee involved. Artur is yet to be given a shirt number.

Sarkisov, who was born in Grozny and is of Armenian descent started his professional career with FC Reutov, a small club hailing from Reutov, Moscow Oblast. After making 74 appearances and scoring 15 goals in 3 seasons for the Western Second Division club, Artur swapped the Moscow Oblast outfit with FC Lokomotiv Moscow and in two seasons he managed to develop into a key player. Actually during his two-year stay with out farm club, Sarkisov managed to top the scoring charts in as many years. Last season, despite playing just 17 games due to injury, he still managed to top Loko-2's scoring charts with 10 goals. This year, he managed to raise his game even further and coming the end of the season he banged in a tally of 21 goals from 25 appearances. Eventually such tally allowed him to top not only the Russian Second Division Western Section scoring charts but also those of all the 5 Sections put altogether - not bad at all!! At the end, and rightly so, Lokomotiv came down knocking and eventually made the striker their first signing for the forthcoming season.

When asked about his feelings following his move to the main squad, the striker replied that the trasnfer was a dream come true for him. He added that although he knew that the CEO of Lokomotiv-2 Igor Zelepukin recommended him to Lokomotiv, he didn't expected such invitation, something which eventually made the move more pleasing.

Although for sure Sarkisov's name is far from synonymous with Russian football followers, I confess that I am very pleased to finally see a youngster getting through our ranks. The reason is that I believe that in the past years Lokomotiv Moscow have relied too much on foreigners and thus many prospective youngsters failed to make the cut to the main squad and eventually sought pastures elsewhere. Actually, although Gatagov is not that bad, I am of the belief that Lokomotiv haven't produced a talented player since Diniyar Bilyaletdinov took the Russian Premier Liga by storm, that is 7 whole years. So, although the new Olga Smorodskaya regime had more lows than highs in the past months, I must applaud their decision to sign the youngster, because apart of the fact that the transfer will give Sarkisov a deserving chance, such move may eventually spur our youngsters to do their best and give them the needed believe thay they can make it to the main squad. Well Done!!

ALL THE BEST ARTUR!!