This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Russian rumor mill churns once more. At the center of the latest news out of Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow is that former Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan could be available during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Music to the ears of the clamoring RSL fan base, indeed.
The possibility of the 28-year-old Movsisyan returning to RSL seems to pick up steam when such reports surface. RSL holds his MLS rights after Movsisyan left the club in 2010 to move to Danish club Randers.
General manager Craig Waibel might've thrown a bit of gasoline on the fire in a stint Thursday on RSL's flagship station ESPN700. Asked if RSL remains interested in Movsisyan — should he desire a move back to MLS — Waibel said, "Always."
"We'll remain interested in Yura," he continued. "He's a guy whose done nothing but score goals everywhere he's been. He scored goals here and ever since he left."
Waibel said Spartak Moscow made a public announcement last week that Movsisyan was one of the club's players that most likely wouldn't be brought back following the winter transfer window.
"Conversations will inevitably ensue in one way, shape or form," Waibel said. "He's still on contract there. Spartak have to want to move him."
Movsisyan's agent Patrick McCabe told the Tribune in May that Movsisyan had interest in returning to MLS at the time. McCabe confirmed that Movsisyan's contract at Spartak expires at the end of the 2017 season. McCabe later told the Tribune in July that Movsisyan was viewed as a crucial part of new coach Dmitry Alenichev's plans upon his hiring in June.
However, McCabe also added, "Yura remains hopeful that he can return to MLS should the situation change."
The question now four months later: Has it?
"I think Yura's got some interest in coming back here," Waibel said.
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani