Boombl4 speaks on talks with G2 falling through

The former NAVI in-game leader pointed toward a multitude of reasons for why conversation with the organization didn't continue.

Kirill "⁠Boombl4⁠" Mikhailov has confirmed that he was in initial discussions with G2 to join their roster, but that those talks fell through in the early stages due to a number of conditions and conflicts that the two parties could not agree upon.

In a live stream with a popular Russian rapper, the 23-year-old in-game leader spoke on his search for a team since being benched by Natus Vincere, stating that he is open to creating a new lineup for which he already has players in mind. He added that any interested organizations should be prepared to buy out his contract with NAVI, which is still in place.

He then confirmed early discussions that transpired with G2, but said that there were conditions that needed to be met that were complicated, including dealing with different taxes and combating his own desire to stay in Russia.

"Playing in a European team but without friends, without family and close ones is very difficult," Boombl4 says. "It's not a matter of attachment to a country, but rather to close ones and social circle. And I would not want to leave it, because, without it, the emotional state will simply be… you will quickly burn out and you won’t be able to get this energy anywhere as with close ones and friends who support and spend time with you."

Boombl4 added that he talked to an unnamed member of the team, who had been given the option to move to Germany, Serbia, or Andorra — the same three countries that the Russian player guessed he would also be given the choice of if he joined the team.

However, relocation was only one of the issues touched on by Boombl4, who also said that the ability to communicate in English to an experience level suitable of a team of G2's calibre was a pain point. He also added that the organization said that his "reputation is not great," indicating another reason for talks falling through.

Boombl4 has been sidelined from Natus Vincere ever since he was removed from their active lineup due to "high reputational risks." The roster change followed in the wake of a highly public divorce between the PGL Major Stockholm champion and his ex-wife, to whom he had proposed to on stream live after winning the Major, as well as after NAVI's CEO stated that the organization would not work with people who live in Russia and pay taxes to the Russian Federation.