Nair Tiknizyan: "Money Doesn't Matter to Me"

On June 23, Shant TV aired an interview with Armenia national team footballer Nair Tiknizyan, recorded in early June while he was with the team. In the interview, he discussed his upcoming transfer to Serbian club Red Star Belgrade ("Crvena Zvezda"), why he turned down an offer from Zenit, and the current situation in the Armenian national team.

According to Nair, his peak came in 2023 when he played successfully for Armenia, beating Wales (4–2), and was named Lokomotiv Moscow’s best player. Several European clubs showed interest, including Werder Bremen, Sevilla, and Bologna, but only Zenit made a formal offer—€8 million—which Lokomotiv accepted.

"The clubs had agreed, and I was offered a good contract, but I thought about it and declined. Money isn’t that important to me," said Nair. "Douglas Santos plays in my position at Zenit, and I would have just been in his shadow."

Tiknizyan confirmed that he will join Red Star Belgrade this summer:

"This is a club with a rich history, and I hope to help them qualify for European competitions and play there."

He also commented on the Armenian national team, noting that despite current challenges, the team has a constructive, focused atmosphere:

"We're in a transitional period and building a new system. We have a great coach and coaching staff. I believe we’ll succeed if we follow the coach."

A touching part of the interview focused on his family. Nair spoke warmly of his father, Hovhannes Tiknizyan, who is originally from the village of Mantash in Armenia’s Shirak Province. He said his father was especially happy when he decided to play for the Armenian national team:

"It meant a lot to him. His roots are from Western Armenia, and he is proud that I play under the Armenian flag."

On June 22, Nair Tiknizyan signed a three-year contract with Red Star Belgrade.