Moscow (AFP) – Twice-capped Germany international Roman Neustadter has received a Russian passport allowing the defender to play for the country at the Euro, a post on the national team’s Twitter site announced on Monday.
The Twitter site posted a picture of the 28-year-old Schalke player holding up his new Russian passport at Russia’s Consulate in Bonn.
Neustadter — who was born in the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk during the Soviet era — has played two international friendlies for the Germany, but that did not compromise his eligibility to play for Russia.
Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin decreed that Neudstadter be granted Russian citizenship.
Russian manager Leonid Slutsky has included Neustadter on his 23-man squad for the European Championship which gets underway in France on June 10.
The squad also includes Brazilian-born goalkeeper Guilherme of Lokomotiv Moscow, who received Russian citizenship last year.
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said in January that the country was working to grant Neustadter a passport but that the process was not simple.
Russia, the host nation for the 2018 World Cup, have been drawn alongside England, Wales and Slovakia in Group B for Euro 2016.
Russia will play pre-tournament friendlies against the Czech Republic on June 1 before facing Serbia four days later.
