Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Igor Denisov has criticised the club's expensive recruitment strategy.

The Russian champions spent a combined sum of £69m on the signings of Brazil forward Hulk and Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel earlier this month.

Denisov does not believe that the pair are worthy of their price tags and he is unhappy that they have immediately become top earners at the club.

"I would understand if we got [Lionel] Messi or [Andres] Iniesta - they probably deserve any price," said Denisov.

"Yes, we bought some good players who will clearly help Zenit. But are they really so much better than the current team leaders that they deserve to get three times more? Zenit have assembled some great players who have won at least as many titles as the new guys.

"It is not the money that is most important. What is at stake is something else entirely: a working atmosphere at the club and respect shown towards your own Russian players - the ones that Zenit have always relied on."

Denisov, along with leading scorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov, has been ordered to train with the youth team as punishment for voicing his displeasure.