After the announcement came that Earvin Ngapeth was transferring from his current club of Azimut Modena to Zenit Kazan, suspicions were raised about Wilfredo Leon‘s future with the club. Fellow VolleyMob writer Renan Correia correctly called Leon’s decision not to renew his contract in his article about the Ngapeth move yesterday, as there was simply no room for him on the Kazan roster.
Leon’s choice of destination will greatly impact the layout of club volleyball for the next several years. He is considered the best male volleyball player in the world, and any club that has him on their roster will instantly become a contender for any type of international competition. The club that he is being linked to most closely at the moment is Sir Safety Conad Perugia, who has been winning everything in the Italian SuperLega this season and will likely face off against Zenit Kazan in the Champions League finals this spring. A Leon transfer from Kazan to Perugia could finally spell the end of Russian dominance of male club volleyball.
Parallels can be drawn between Wilfredo Leon‘s impending free agency and the LeBron James “decision” of the 2010 NBA offseason. Both are six foot seven athletes that are the top of their sports whose choice of team can alter that club’s future for the next decade. LeBron James was 26 at the time of his decision, while Leon is still only 24 with many years of high-level play ahead of him. Hopefully, his “decision” will be made in a less controversial way.
Wilfredo had this to say about his move: “I want to officially inform that I have decided not to renew my contract with Zenit Kazan. I would like to thank the Club and the Coach for creating the perfect conditions for my sport development. In this wonderful Club, I achieved titles that I was dreaming of – I won the Russian Championship, the Russian Cup, the Russian Super Cup, CEV Champions League, as well as the Club World Championship. This season we are facing two more challenges – the playoffs of the Russian Championships and the final of CEV Champions League. As a professional, I guarantee that I will give all my skills and heart to win in these competitions. The day of the CEV Champions League final match is my daughter’s first birthday, so winning would be the best gift. I part my ways with Zenit in friendship. We do not rule out further cooperation in the future. Best regards to Zenit fans – thank you for your support for all these years. Keep your fingers crossed for me in the future.”
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