Gennady Orlov stated that having forward Aleksandr Sobolev in Zenit can be considered a defeat for the Saint Petersburg club. In response to a question about whether Sobolev will look for a new team after this season for more playing time, Orlov noted that the player receives a salary at Zenit that he will not get anywhere else. Orlov added that Sobolev, along with his agent, achieved what they wanted by transferring to the team. He also mentioned that Zenit can currently win the championship without Sobolev in the lineup, and the forward will receive everything he is due and be considered a national champion. Orlov believes that Sobolev is fortunate.

Gennady Orlov responded to a question about the possible sale of 28-year-old Russian striker Alexander Sobolev from Zenit. According to Gennady Orlov, the forward will not be sold because there is no buyer for him. Gennady Orlov said that there are no requests for Alexander Sobolev at the moment. Sobolev joined Zenit in August 2024, has a contract until June 2027, and has scored 3 goals in 16 domestic league appearances this season. The forward has 14 caps for Russia, has a current Transfermarkt market value of €5.00m, and has been linked with Crvena Zvezda.