Jhon Duran booked five minutes into Zenit debut after ugly clash | OneFootball

Jhon Duran was cautioned five minutes into his Zenit St Petersburg debut after an ugly altercation in a pre-season friendly against Shanghai Port. According to Goal.com, the on-loan striker’s first outing in Russia began in chaotic fashion.

Chasing a long ball, Duran and a defender exchanged shoves before the Colombian appeared to leap above his opponent, lock him around the head and haul him down. Both players quickly got up and shook hands before the referee arrived, who then booked Duran and told them to calm down. The friendly setting may have influenced the lenient outcome.

The 22-year-old’s high-octane style and flashes of indiscipline have travelled with him. He joined Zenit on loan after a turbulent spell of moves and headlines.

Duran left Aston Villa amid links to West Ham and Chelsea, sealing a £64.5 million switch to Al-Nassr in January last year. He soon headed to Fenerbahce on loan in Türkiye, reportedly drawn by a bigger salary, but failed to settle and that agreement was cancelled after five goals.

His aggression has been a recurring theme, including a red card at Villa for kicking out at Newcastle defender Fabian Schar. The Athletic has reported instances of lateness and disruptive behaviour at Villa, concerns that shadowed subsequent moves.

Zenit remain barred from UEFA competitions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, so this move could help Duran rebuild away from Europe’s spotlight. If his edge is channelled into goals, he could be a major asset, but if not, this stint may prove another brief chapter.

Source: Goal.com