Former Liverpool target Lorenzo Melgarejo is considering the option of taking up Russian nationality and representing the country at the 2016 European Championship finals.
The 25-year-old Paraguay left wing back has become disappointed with the lack of interest from his native country and could go on to become the Russian citizen.
His father Blas Melgarejo has confirmed contacts with the Russian Football Association claiming that 2018 World Cup hosts are more than interested in offering Russian nationality to the Spartak Moscow January signing.
Lorenzo Melgarejo has represented Paraguay having played 3 games for Under 20 set-up, while he also made two appearances for the senior team.
He moved to Russia in 2013 when he signed a deal with Kuban Krasnodar, but was transferred to Spartak Moscow this winter.
Russia are also interested in offering the Russian nationality to Roman Neustadter, the 27-year-old German midfielder born in Dnepropetrovsk, who is eligible to represent Russia at Euro 2021 despite the fact he had already made two appearances for the Germany national team.