R3salt: "As for buying yourself out, that's just clickbait"

Newly joined 9 Pandas player Evgeny "r3salt" Frolov has once again commented on his decision to leave Aurora. In an interview with HLTV.org, the Russian esports athlete reiterated that he did not engage in any hidden negotiations, though he admitted that he did not inform his former teammates about his intentions until the last moment.

“Firstly, I’m just glad that the deal went through. Secondly, I’ve said this before, but I wasn’t doing anything behind the backs of my former teammates. Initially, after two months of intensive play—online and then in Australia—I didn’t fully understand how the training process would be organised. When we started working on it, I immediately informed the organisation that it wasn’t suitable for me, and later I told the coach and some of my teammates.

Regarding the statements from Norwi and KENSI... They didn’t know anything, but since they are close to the organisation’s management, it sounds very foolish from their side. Because if the management knows, they should know too. I remember reading that Norwi was in a restaurant with me, and he thought whether I would tell him about wanting to move to 9 Pandas or not. So he knew.”

Frolov also denied the rumour that he had to personally buy out his contract from Aurora. According to him, he does not have such funds.

“No, I was not involved in the negotiations at all. I compared myself to my subscribers because I knew nothing. I just waited for them to tell me that everything was fine and that I would be playing. But initially, I heard: "Everything is bad, you won’t be playing," and I was like, "I’m with Aurora, great."

As for buying out my contract, that’s just clickbait. I don’t know why people post such things—where would I get that kind of money? Some say I took out a bunch of microloans, sold someone... No, I wouldn’t have that kind of money. It was all 9 Pandas, and I’m grateful to them for that.”

Remember, 9 Pandas became one of the winners of the closed European qualifiers for the upcoming RMR tournament before the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024.