Russia captain Denisov went on strike after the signings of Hulk and Axel Witsel, unhappy that the club had spent so much after being told there was not enough money to increase his wages.

"I made a wrong decision... but it took time to understand it all," he told the club's website (www.fc-zenit.ru).

"I have a valid contract with the club and I must honour it... I grew up at Zenit and I want to help the club very much."