Dynamo Moscow star Kevin Kuranyi says the level of football in the Russian Premier League is a lot higher than many around the globe think.

­The 28-year-old striker joined Dynamo from Bundesliga side Schalke in the summer break of the 2010 season, signing a deal until 2013. According to the German media, the player earns €18 million with the Moscow club.  

“I have never regretted moving to Russia… The level of football here is much higher than many in the world think. Successful performances of Russian clubs in European competition speak for themselves,” he said.

Kuranyi scored nine goals in 16 appearances for the Blue-and-Whites this year, with the team finishing only seventh in the table.

“If the club bosses strengthen a couple of problem positions, Dynamo will be good enough to fight for top places next season,” the striker stressed.  

Besides Dynamo, his stance in the German squad also worries the player. He has 52 caps for his country, but hasn’t been called up to the team since 2008 after his conflict with coach Joachim Loeb.

“I still believe in the possibility of returning to the German team and continue to hope for it in the depth of my heart. However, I don’t allow these thoughts to distract me from work. Everyone knows that I really want to play for the national team and see that I’m doing maximum to be there. The rest, alas, isn’t in my power,” he said.

The star-forward also spoke about Russia’s victory in the bid for the FIFA World Cup, calling it a major achievement.  

“When I learned that the 2018 World Cup will take place in Russia, I was very happy for the local fans. They deserve a tournament of such level on their land. Hosting the World Cup involves the construction of new stadiums and renovation of the existing arenas, which will give a great boost to the development of the country as a whole. The Championship will attract crowds of tourists from all over the world, and they will discover what a great country Russia is,” Kuranyi said.