Dubai: FC Zenit St.Petersburg sports director Igor Korneyev has said the club would be more than happy to welcome back their former star Andrei Arshavin from Arsenal.
The Russian striker continues to be linked with an exit from the English Premier League with reports suggesting he is set for a £17million move to Serie A giants Juventus.
But Arshavin's old team, who are currently in Dubai gearing up for the inaugural Matchworld Cup, have also expressed a desire to be reunited with the man who left them two years ago. "Arshavin is always welcome back at Zenit, and if he is available, under the right conditions, he is more than welcome," said Korneyev ahead of the Russian champions' opening match on Saturday against AC Sparta Prag.
The Matchworld Cup which kicks off on Thursday at Al Shabab's Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum stadium features six teams including 2009 Uefa Cup winners FC Shakthar Donetsk. Mircea Lucescu, the Shakthar coach said: "The tournament will help prepare for the upcoming Champions League matches we have in the coming months."
The other teams in action are Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal, Slovakian champions MSK Zilina and Iranian giants Piroozi FC who are coached by Iranian legend Ali Daei.
