At just 19 years old, Simeon Nikolov is already a global volleyball phenomenon, but behind the record numbers and millions of views on social media lies the complex reality of a teenager projected into one of the toughest leagues in the world. The Bulgarian setter, currently playing for Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, confessed in a long interview on the American podcast Out of System, revealing a human side made up of loneliness, sentimental insecurities and great professional ambitions.
In Russia, Nikolov is confirming all his talent: he is second in the championship with his team and dominates the individual rankings, occupying seventh place among the best blockers and the top 15 in serves. “I try to be as aggressive as possible at the net, which creates a lot of problems for the opponents,” explains the young director, who averages an impressive 10 points per game. Yet, far from the Taraflex, life in Siberia is marked by profound isolation, exacerbated by the absence of teammate Sam Deroo, currently away from the fields undergoing chemotherapy. «I’m alone, I feel alone. I feel like I’m almost ‘withering away’,” he admitted sincerely. «I’m here exclusively for volleyball; everything else is a bonus. I never cook, order food or eat at restaurants. I spend all my time between the arena and the bed.”
One of the most touching passages of the interview concerns Nikolov’s relationship with fame and women. Despite being an acclaimed star, the setter confesses a profound distrust in interpersonal relationships: «I’ll be honest, I have strong insecurities. If I like a girl, I go into crisis because I never know if she likes me or my fame, my followers and my money. I have often ended relationships by saying: “No, you’re not real, you’re fake”. Maybe I’m too cautious, or maybe I’m just a little cowardly, but when the right one comes along I won’t care what they write on social media anymore.”
The choice of Novosibirsk, preferred to seven European clubs, was dictated by the desire to grow under the guidance of Plamen Konstantinov and by the guarantee of a starting place. «I wanted to play in one of the best Russian teams or the worst in Italy. I thought: why wake up every morning knowing that we will get destroyed in every game? I don’t think we can progress like this.” However, Nikolov’s future seems already written and leads towards the Italian Super League. Market rumors say he will certainly join Cucine Lube Civitanova next season, where he would find his brother Aleksander again. “I want to fight for trophies and improve,” he says, although without officially confirming the transfer.
Nikolov then emotionally recalled the incredible ride at the World Cup in the Philippines, where Bulgaria won a historic silver. An experience that made him feel, by his own admission, “like LeBron James”, overwhelmed by the affection of thousands of fans who showered the team with gifts. The success was the result of a change of mentality imposed by coach Gianlorenzo Blengini after a disappointing Nations League: «We remained focused only on volleyball, isolating ourselves from the “external noise”. Even the president of the federation wanted to talk to us after the victory against the USA, but the coach forbade him so as not to distract us.” The match against the United States remains, for Nikolov, the match of his life: a recovery from 0-2 which marked his definitive international consecration. Now, “Monya” (as he is nicknamed) looks ahead, torn between the desire for normality and the awareness of being destined to mark an era in world volleyball.
Source: sport.business-gazeta.ru
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