Felipe Caicedo is relishing the prospect of making a return to Russia with Ecuador at the 2018 World Cup.
The 27-year-old spent just over two seasons with Lokomotiv Moscow, scoring 15 goals in 63 games for the Railroaders.
After joining Lokomotiv from Spanish side Levante in 2011, Caicedo started his stint with the Railroaders well. The Ecuadorian striker scored crucial goals against the likes of Zenit, CSKA and Anzhi in the league, while he also found the back of the net twice in the Europa League.
However, after Senegalese striker Dame N’Doye joined the Red-Greens in the summer of 2012, Caicedo suddenly found himself in the role as back-up, a role that didn’t fit him well. In the following one and a half year, Caicedo scored just five league goals, and in the winter of 2014, he left Moscow to join Al Jazira from the UAE.
Now a little older and wiser with Espanyol in Spain’s La Liga, Caicedo and Ecuador appear on course after picking up four wins from their first four South American World Cup qualifiers.
The former Manchester City has been central figure in that fantastic start to the qualifying campaign with four goals in four games already for Los Amarillos.
And despite the prospect of another Copa America fast approaching, Caicedo appears to have his gaze firmly fixed on making a return to Russia with his national team, two years from now.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FIFA, the Ecuadorian confessed that he would “love to go back” to the Eastern European nation.
“Russia loves its football,” he said.
“The people are very passionate and the stadiums are always full. It’s going to be a fantastic World Cup and if we’re lucky enough to qualify, it’ll be very exciting. Russia opened the doors to Europe for me and I’ve got some good friends there. I hope we [Ecuador] can do it.”
Something of a South American journeyman, Caicedo has played in Switzerland, England, Portugal Spain, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, with a potential World Cup to come in Russia, his most exciting trip may be just ahead.
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