The internet holds the evidence: Miralem Pjanić refused to play against Russia two years ago, now he will take Russian millions.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian football was isolated. The national team and clubs at the European and international levels are banned from competing. As a result, the Russian league lost many top foreign players. However, some still remain, aware that they will only play in the domestic league but can secure better financial terms in exchange.

This is precisely what Pjanić has done. After growing tired of football in the Arab world, he is heading to Russia in the twilight of his career. In fact, he is already there, with only the signature on his contract with CSKA Moscow pending. The former Lyon, Roma, Juventus, and Barcelona player has agreed to a one-year deal, with an option to extend for another year.

Pjanić’s move to CSKA comes as a bit of a surprise for several reasons, one being the stance he took as a Bosnia and Herzegovina international just two years ago. Back then, he and his teammates opposed the idea of Bosnia playing a friendly match against Russia.

"The sporting director of the national team, Zvjezdan Misimović, called me and told me there was a possibility of playing this match with Russia. I told him that at this moment, it makes no sense to play against them, as FIFA had excluded them, UEFA had excluded them. Why us? Why not another national team? The whole world is suffering in some way because of this war, so why should we be the first to play a friendly against them? There’s no positive side to this match, not for us, and it would also be negatively received worldwide. Personally, I have nothing against Russian footballers, but if everyone else has decided not to play against Russia, we must stand in solidarity and reject it too. I simply cannot play such a match," Pjanić said at the time.

Now, at 34 years old, it seems Pjanić has no objections to playing in Russia.