Agent Oleg Eremin has revealed Manchester City wing-back Aleks Zinchenko could be playing for Russia.

Zinchenko is now a star with Ukraine, though won his move to City when spotted with Russia's FC Ufa.

Eremin, who took Zinchenko to Ufa, recalled to matchtv.ru: "I was directly related to Zinchenko's transfer to Ufa.

"There was a situation when he came from Donetsk and for a long time could not find a team here, he walked around looking.

"The cause of the problems was not the level of his training and skill, but the fact that the clubs were afraid to conclude an agreement with him, because this would require proceedings with FC Shakhtar with unknown consequences. I managed to convince Shamil Gazizov that the consequences can be quite predictable, and it made sense to take a chance and take this guy at least for one contract.

"There was talk that Zinchenko could get a Russian passport. As far as I know, Sasha's parents and, accordingly, he had this intention. But then the process of obtaining citizenship dragged on, and an invitation to the Ukrainian team followed, and all doubts disappeared."