How have your first days at Zenit been? You had your medical, but what else have you seen?
Yes, there hasn’t been any real first day yet, today will be my first training session. I’ve just had my medical and walked around St. Petersburg a little yesterday. Everything looks good.
You printed number 67 on your shirt, does that mean you’ve chosen your squad number and what does it mean to you?
You could say I haven’t exactly decided yet. But most likely, there will be my number. Why 67? Because that’s the number of my home region.
How expected was this move to Zenit for you?
When the offer came I thought about it and discussed it, but it was sort of expected because of my assist record last season, and I thought Zenit might come calling
How do you rate your chances of getting playing time? There is a lot of competition in your position, for example there’s Claudinho?
I will fight for my place and train with total dedication.
Mikhail Kerzhakov said that for everything starts anew next season, what does that mean to you?
There is a lot of competition at a big club like Zenit and things cannot be laid back, both in training and to play. So this is a new stage and everything starts again.
Maxim, tell us how your family and friends reacted to you moving to St. Petersburg?
They’ve been supportive. I don’t know how else they might react? They said, go ahead, don’t hesitate.
In a few days the summer friendly tournament will begin with Sochi, Crvena Zvezvda and Argentinian team Talleres. What do you think of these rivals? What do you know about them? Sochi and Crvena Zvezda are well known to us, but what about the team from Argentina?
I don’t know anything about this club. We'll see on the pitch.
Even though they’re top of the league in Argentina?
I didn’t even know that
Which of your other Lokomotiv team mates would you like to see follow you here? Maybe Tiknizyan?
Agree, Tiknizyan, you can see our link through the stats. Anton Miranchuk, Sergei Pinyaev…
Have you already thought about the upcoming season and playing against your old club? How will that feel?
When I go out on the pitch I don’t think about anything. I think about football and the match. I will see the guys and my friends and we’ll chat and have good relations.
The European Championship are now underway, have you watched any matches? Which team has impressed you and ?
To be honest, I watch very few matches, because there is enough football in life. I don't like watching football. I’ve watched two matches, with England and France. I don't know. I think France will be champions.