Rubin's Argentine forward Alejandro Dominguez was named Russian Premier League player of the year on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old scored 16 goals in 23 league games in 2009 as Rubin claimed their second successive title. He also helped the club to a memorable Champions League victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Dominguez signed for Rubin in 2004 from Argentine club River Plate in 2003, before being sold to Zenit St. Petersburg for a then record Russian transfer fee of 7 million euros. He later fell out with Zenit trainer Dick Advocaat and returned to Rubin on a one-year contract at the start of this season.

He has been linked with a number of Spanish and Italian clubs and looks likely to leave Russia before the start of the 2010 season in March.

"Dominguez and his family want to live in a country closer to the mentality and language of Argentina," club president Alexander Gusev said last week.

MOSCOW, December 1 (RIA Novosti)