“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Dinamo Tbilisi, and 1 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Dinamo Tbilisi that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
“Ask me in the summer. I will know before anybody else does.” He is 39 with 17 appearances behind him, and Dinamo Tbilisi have to plan for both answers.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Dinamo Tbilisi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The name of Shota Diakonidze has come up in conversations Dinamo Tbilisi were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Dinamo Tbilisi have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Dinamo Tbilisi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Dinamo Tbilisi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Dinamo Tbilisi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Giorgi Zaria has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
A season-long audition: Cruz Azul still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Dinamo Tbilisi's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
A new face in his position, and Nikoloz Ninua suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Dinamo Tbilisi have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Dinamo Tbilisi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Rodrigo Ramos has let it be known that he does not like the way Dinamo Tbilisi are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
At 23 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Dinamo Tbilisi have a decision that made itself.
In brief
SquadLuka Tsulaia asks for a word with the manager
The terracesThe press have found their man in Giorgi Zaria
BoardroomThe Dinamo Tbilisi production line keeps running
The name of Luka Tsulaia has come up in conversations Dinamo Tbilisi were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Dinamo Tbilisi can pretend not to have heard.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Dinamo Tbilisi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Dinamo Tbilisi can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Dinamo Tbilisi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.