Player flameZ has openly confirmed for the first time that NAVI offered him a contract even before his move to Vitality. According to the Israeli rifler, this decision became one of the key moments of his career — and it is precisely what led him to a trophy collection already at the age of 22.
The story of flameZ
In modern CS2, choosing a team often determines not only a player’s current level, but their entire future path. The story of flameZ is a vivid example of how a single transfer decision can change a career trajectory: instead of a potential move to NAVI, he chose Vitality — and in a short time became part of a dominant roster.
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The offer from NAVI: what flameZ said
In an interview, flameZ confirmed that the Ukrainian club approached him before he signed with Vitality:
I never expected to have such a trophy collection at 22… NaVi made me an offer even before Vitality.
The player admitted that after NAVI’s success in 2024, doubts occasionally crossed his mind:
In 2024 I sometimes thought: ‘Oh, they won the Major, maybe I should have joined Na’Vi.
However, according to him, these thoughts remained purely hypothetical.
Why the choice fell on Vitality
flameZ emphasized that he does not regret the decision and considers it the right one:
But I made the right choice by choosing the Vitality path, because this is an amazing team. It’s a great family where you can grow.
According to him, the key factor was the atmosphere within the roster — continuous development regardless of results:
Even if we lose or win, we learn a lot from each other.
This approach allowed flameZ to quickly adapt to the top level and become a stable part of Vitality’s championship-winning machine.
Looking to the future: flameZ on his career
The player also touched on the instability of an esports career and the value of every season:
In CS you never know in advance. As apEX always tells us: you never know when you’ll be on the stage next time.
flameZ stressed that this is why the team tries to make the most of its peak:
The opportunity to play in such an amazing roster doesn’t come many times in life, so we have to use it and ‘squeeze all the lemons.
An alternative history: what if NAVI had signed flameZ in 2023
If NAVI had placed their bet on flameZ in 2023, the club could have gained:
- an aggressive but disciplined entry fragger;
- a long-term investment with growth potential;
- a player who comfortably adapts to structured play.
At the same time, flameZ himself likely would not have found the same stable, trophy-rich environment that he discovered in Vitality. It was the French club’s structure, role balance, and experienced leadership that allowed him to unlock his potential as quickly as possible.
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A defining choice
The story of flameZ is an example of how choosing the right context can matter more than a big name. The offer from NAVI was real, but the decision in favor of Vitality brought the player trophies, stability, and a clear role in one of the world’s top teams. And already now, it can be said that for flameZ, this choice became a defining one.
