The AZAL Courier
Market11 Jan 2027
Afran Medvedev asks to leave AZAL
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Transfer targets11 Jan 2027
The paperwork begins on Orkhan Mammadov
A medical, a signature, a shirt held up in front of a sponsor’s board. AZAL have done the hard part with Inter, and the part that remains is the part supporters actually see.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Hrayr Mkoyan in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at AZAL this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Transfer targets11 Jan 2027
Door shut on Emil Balayev
AZAL asked and Neftchi said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Time is catching up with Qara Medvedev
Everybody at AZAL saw it before anybody said it, which is how this always goes. At 34 the decline is real and measurable — 3 points — and the only question left is how the club handles somebody it owes a great deal to.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Ardijan Chilafi stays put
“The easiest signature of my career.” Ardijan Chilafi and AZAL agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Rodrigo Dantas wants to go home
“I have given this everything, but my family is not here and neither am I, not really.” A footballer can be coached out of bad form. Nobody has ever been coached out of this, and AZAL know it.
Transfer targets11 Jan 2027
AZAL ask about Rachid Moumini
A loan enquiry to Sumgayit: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
The dugout11 Jan 2027
Afran Ozobic gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
In brief
- Market The Emin Nazarov question follows AZAL around
- The dugout Afran Medvedev asks for a word with the manager
- The terraces Supporters make their feelings known about Timur Shilov