Ukrainian footballer Rakitskyi quits Zenit

Yaroslav Rakitskyi, the 32-year-old Ukrainian centre-back, has left Zenit St Petersburg after asking the Russian side to end his contract early.

After missing his side's most recent match on Monday, his coach Sergei Semak explained that the defender wanted to spend time with his family, given the current situation in Ukraine.

Now, he has departed the club that he joined in 2019 when he moved from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of 10 million euros.

Zenit's statement about Rakitskyi's departure

The Russian club released a statement to explain that Rakitskyi has had his contract rescinded.

"Yaroslav Rakitskiy requested an early end to his contract and this has been agreed by the club," the statement started.

"He joined Zenit in January 2019 and played 108 matches, scored seven goals and made 15 assists as a blue-white-sky blue player. While in St. Petersburg he won three league titles, the Russian Cup and two Super Cups.

"The club and our supporters wish to thank Yaroslav Rakitskiy for his time here and recognize the professionalism and passion he displayed while with us.

"We sincerely wish the best to Yaroslav, his friends and his family."