In response to reports linking 28-year-old Russian midfielder Dmitriy Barinov with a potential move to PFC CSKA, former Lokomotiv president Nikolai Naumov shared his opinion with a 'Чемпионата' correspondent. He stated his belief that a transfer to another Russian team would represent an unforgivable error for the player. Naumov noted that while a switch to Zenit could be logical for the chance to compete for trophies, it would also be a considerable gamble with the risk of being left on the bench. He concluded that no domestic club is a suitable destination for Barinov, as a move would not make sense from a sporting or financial standpoint. The midfielder's current deal with Lokomotiv expires on June 30, 2026; he has also been linked to AEK Athens and is valued by Transfermarkt at €8.00m.