Streamer and analyst Yaroslav NS Kuznetsov commented on the rumours regarding Alexey "Solo" Berezin potentially joining the Dota 2 roster of Virtus.pro. During a live stream on Twitch, he mentioned that some players might have been hesitant to team up with Berezin as a player.
Kuznetsov shared a piece of information suggesting that there was interest in bringing Solo to Virtus.pro to assemble a team. However, the management faced difficulties in forming a roster under his leadership, as many players did not see potential prospects with him on board.
It seems that Solo is unlikely to play for Virtus.pro, although Kuznetsov was not entirely certain about this information. He noted that similar sentiments applied to Artem "Fng" Barshak, as both players were not viewed as ideal teammates in negotiations, leading to discussions about seeking alternatives.
He expressed the possibility that Solo might not appear in a prestigious roster like Virtus.pro. He clarified that while Solo is free to create his team by gathering players, this approach often lacks solid support and can result in instability, particularly when financial backing is minimal. Without a reputable brand and sufficient resources to offer competitive salaries, the sustainability of such a team becomes precarious.
Kuznetsov explained that in the past, players would often come together in mixes for free, motivated by the prospect of future earnings. Although such teams still exist, they are less common, particularly among older players like Solo, who may struggle with motivation to compete without adequate compensation.
In late July, there were rumours about Solo transitioning to Virtus.pro and forming a new roster, but it was unclear whether he would take on a player or coaching role. As of the time of publication, Virtus.pro had not officially announced any transfer, and Solo had not disclosed where he would continue his career, remaining officially listed with 9Pandas.