The new and expensive face of modern Russian football

In this edition, we highlighted the mixed reactions and social dilemma created by multibillionaire Suleiman Kerimov’s decision to use his wealth to turn the Anji Makhachkala football club in his native Dagestan into a super team, capable of competing for titles at home and abroad. Specifically, skeptics say the millions spent on acquiring the likes of soccer megastar Samuel Eto’o could have better been used to solve the grinding economic problems currently plaguing Dagestan, while supporters say the billionaire’s ‘Anji soccer project’ deserves praise for bringing top world class quality footballers to Russia …