The first to feature in the Russian Premier League, Azmoun started to add other lines to his CV, playing — and scoring — in the UEFA Europa League six months into his spell. Within a year, Kazan were forced to announce via their official website that Azmoun would be staying at the club despite offers from Arsenal, Liverpool and domestic powerhouses Zenit.
By that stage he had already made his senior international debut for Iran, for whom he has an outrageously healthy goals-to-games ratio. The entire nation will be delighted he quickly U-turned on his decision to quit international football — aged just 23 — after criticism he received for his performances at the 2018 World Cup.
