Tiknizyan: Transfers to Bologna or Betis Seemed Certain, but Reality Proved Different

The defender of Crvena Zvezda, **[Nair Tiknizyan](https://www.example.com/tags/30775-nair-tiknizyan/)**, explained why he did not make the move from Lokomotiv to Zenit and shared insights about the negotiations with the Spanish club Betis and the Italian team Bologna during the same time frame.

**— I can’t understand why you, a player in the Russian Premier League, wouldn’t join Zenit for a salary that is twice as much, to play for the best team in Russia at that moment, the reigning champions of the country.**
— At that time, I had discussions with Bologna, but nothing concrete was ever put in writing. There were also talks with Betis. Over the past three years, I’ve realized that European clubs scrutinize every detail, and their interest extends to everything… Back then, it seemed to me that if I received a call from Bologna or Betis and had a video chat with them, the transfer was 99% certain. But that’s far from the truth, — Tiknizyan stated in an interview featured on the Nobel YouTube channel.

Earlier this summer, Nair Tiknizyan left Moscow’s Lokomotiv. Starting from the 2025/2026 season, the Armenian national team defender will be playing in the Serbian league for Crvena Zvezda.