Vitaly KVARTSYANIY: “I don’t see the point in such drastic measures”

Back in 2024, there was information that the Brazilian midfielder “Shakhtar” Pedrinho could become a football player of the Ukrainian national team. Then the player himself indirectly confirmed it. And just a few days ago, this news acquired new features. Moreover, there is a possibility that Pedrino can be naturalized before the upcoming March matches of the “blue-yellow”.

Your opinion on this matter is exclusively for the site Sport.ua said an authoritative mentor Vitaly Kvartsyanyi.

– The national team of Ukraine now has enough qualified midfield players to take such drastic measures as Pedrino’s naturalization. “Shakhtar” is not even in first place in the championship.

I do not think that this Brazilian is now superior to the same Tsygankov, Zubkov, Hutsuliak or Malinovsky. And for equal qualities, preference should be given to the domestic football player. Yes, we have had cases of naturalization of Brazilians. But how, for example, was Marlos remembered. Did he score 50 goals for the national team, or was he a head stronger than the Ukrainians? No. Another thing is Devych, who scored a lot at the club level, and in the national team he could be used in several positions.

Shakhtar had Kevin, that’s a serious performer for me. Pedrino is a good football player, but I don’t see him as a priority over Ukrainian players. Therefore, I would not make an event out of it.

We will remind that on March 26, the national team of Ukraine will play the semi-final playoff match of the World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament against Sweden. The winner of this confrontation will meet the winner of the Poland-Albania match in the final on March 31 for the right to enter the final part of the tournament.